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THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   DAVID. 

THE   PILLAR   OF    FIRE. 

Uniform  in  size  and  style.     Price  $1.50. 


ROBERTS    BROTHERS,   PUBLISHERS, 

Boston. 


THE 

THRONE  OF  DAVID; 

Jh'om  tfje  (Consecration  of  tjjc  Sljcpljcitj  of  Bctjkjjnn 

TO 

THE   REBELLION   OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM. 

BEING  AN   ILLUSTRATION   OF  THE    SPLENDOR,  POWER,  AND   DOMINION 
OF    THE    REIGN    OF    THE 

SHEPHERD,   POET,    WARRIOR,   KING,   AND  PROPHET, 
ANCESTOR  AND    TYPE    OF  JESUS  ; 

Xn  n  jScrfrs  of  SLcttcrs 

ADDRESSED    BY   AN    ASSYRIAN    AMBASSADOR,    RESIDENT   AT  THE 
COURT    OF    SAUL   AND    DAYID, 

TO     HIS 

LORD     AND     KING     ON     THE    THRONE    OF    NINEVEH; 

WHEREIN    THE    GLORY    OF  ASSYRIA,  AS    WELL    AS    THE    MAGNIFICENCE    OF 
JUDEA,    IS    PRESENTED    TO    THE    READER    AS    BY 

AN    EYE-WITNESS. 
IiY 

THE    REV..  J.    P.    TNGRAHAM,    LL.D., 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  PRINCE  OF  TH:S  HCUOE  OF  p/jvip."  AND  "THE  PILLAR  OF  FIRE." 


BOSTON: 

ROBERTS  BROTHERS, 

3   SOMERSET  STREET. 
1887. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860, 

BY  G.  G.  EVANS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of 
Pennsylvania. 


TV 

THE    AUTHOR  —7 

OF 

M  ^  !  < 

'THE    PILLAR    OF    FIRE,"   AND  OF 

"THE   PRINCE   OF   THE   HOUSE  OF   DAVID," 

INSCRIBES 

TO    THE    AMERICAN    HEBREWS 

£fje  present  Book; 

ILLUSTRATING    THE    PERIOD    OF    HEBRAIC    HISTORY 
WHEN    THE     ROYAL    LINE    OF    DAVID 

FIRST    RECEIVED    FROM    THE    HAND    OF    GOD    ITS    CONSECRATED    CROWN, 
UNITED    IN    AFTER    AGES, 

23g  tJje  East  prince  of   Uje  $>ouse  of  QabtB, 

FOREVER   WITH    THE    CROWN 
OF 

THE    SON    OF    GOD. 


THE   OUTLINE. 


THE  author's  plan,  in  illustration  of  the  history  of  the 
Hebrew  people,  embraces  three  books.  The  first  in  or 
der  of  time,  though  it  was  second  in  the  order  of  publica 
tion,  is  "  The  Pillar  of  Fire,  or  Israel  in  Bondage." 
The  central  figure  of  this  book  is  Moses.  It  takes  up 
the  Hebraic  history  at  the  time  of  the  sale  of  Joseph  into 
Egypt,  and  closes  it  with  the  promulgation  of  the  Two 
Tables  of  the  Divine  Law  from  Sinai.  The  present  work, 
"  The  Throne  of  David,"  is  an  attempt  to  illustrate,  after 
the  same  plan,  the  grandeur  of  Hebraic  history,  when 
the  "People  of  God"  had  attained,  under  the  reigns  of 
David  and  Solomon,  the  height  of  their  power  and  glory 
as  a  nation.  The  central  figure  of  this  work  is  David, 
Prophet,  Priest,  and  King,  and  type  of  HIM,  who  as  the 
last  Prince  of  His  house,  transferred  the  Throne  of  David 
from  earth  to  heaven — from  Jerusalem  below  to  Jeru 
salem  above !  It  presents  David  as  a  shepherd,  and 
a  poet ;  in  his  friendship  with  Jonathan  ;  in  his  victory 
over  the  Philistine;  in  the  solendor  of  his  kingly  magnib'- 


THE   OUTLINE. 

cencc ;  in  his  flight  from  Prince  Absalom ;  and  in  all  the 
scenes  of  his  later  life.  Absalom  in  his  rebellion,  and 
Solomon  in  his  kingly  glory,  are  leading  features  of  the 
work.  The  aim  of  the  writer  is  to  invest  with  popular 
interest  one  of  the  most  interesting  periods  of  Hebrew 
history  distinguished  by  the  cotemporaneous  existence 
of  four  of  the  most  wonderful  men  of  any  age;  viz., 
David,  Saul,  Samuel  the  Prophet,  and  Solomon  the 
greatest  and  wisest  of  men. 

His  aim  in  these  books  is  to  draw  the  attention  of 
those  who  seldom  open  the  Bible,  to  that  sacred  volume, 
by  unfolding  to  them  the  beauty,  riches,  eloquence,  and 
grandeur  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  He  is  told  that  the  two 
preceding  works  have  contributed,  hitherto,  largely  to  this 
result,  and  numerous  letters  in  his  possession  from  grate 
ful  writers  bear  testimony  to  the  good  which  those  books 
have  done  in  directing  attention  to  the  Bible,  the  inex 
haustible  FOUNTAIN  from  which  they  were  drawn. 

The  Bible  is  a  legitimate  field  for  human  research. 
Like  the  globe,  its  mines  of  gold  and  silver  are  by  man 
lawfully  penetrated  and  worked  for  their  treasures! 
Every  sermon  gathers  its  wealth  of  thought  from  its 
sacred  placers;  every  commentator  finds  in  the  golden 
sarnie  of  its  rivers  of  Life,  his  riches  of  illustration.  The 
pious  Art-painter  portrays  with  his  pencil  its  holy  inci 
dents  ;  and  the  religious  sculptor  chisels  in  marble  his 
devout  and  elevated  conceptions  of  the  forms  and  features 


THE    OUTLINE.  9 

of  its  prophets,  priests,  kings,  and  martyrs ;  even  the 
ideal  human  form  of  the  Divine  Son  of  Mary,  without  re 
buke  and  without  impiety.  ART,  devoutly  and  reverently, 
commands  the  marLle  to  reveal,  so  far  as  the  lofty  con 
ceptions  of  consecrated  genius  can  reach,  the  unknown 
and  heavenly  lineaments !  Destroy  all  pictures  and 
statues  which  illustrate  sacred  characters  and  scenes, 
and  Art  would  be  destroyed  with  them ;  for  upon  the 
incidents  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  nearly  all  pure 
ART  has  hitherto  been  nourished ;  and  to  illustrations  of 
their  holy  scenes  it  is  indebted  for  nearly  all  of  its 
glory  and  splendor. 

A  writer,  therefore,  whose  high  office  it  is  to  make 
known  the  Scriptures,  who  with  becoming  reverence 
and  with  right  motives  approaches  them  to  illustrate 
with  his  Pen,  scenes  and  characters  therefrom,  labors 
in  a  lawful  field  of  duty.  The  PEN  is  but  another  in 
strument  wherewith  consecrated  Art  may  delineate  the 
characters  of  Holy  Writ ;  and,  equally  with  the  CHISEL 
and  the  Pencil,  be  permitted  to  present  them  to  the 
imagination  of  the  devout  reader.  These  present  books 
come,  therefore,  within  the  legitimate  province  of  sacied 
illustration.  They  are  delineations  of  historical  por 
tions  of  the  Bible,  presented  in  the  form  of  " Letters'' 
in  order  to  secure  more  familiar  and  vivid  expression. 

The  Third  Book  of  the  Series,  (but  which  was  the  first 
in  order  of  publication,)  "  The  Prince  of  the  House  of 


10  THE    OUTLINE. 

David,"  illustrates  the  decadence  of  Hebraic  power,  as 
"The  Pillar  of  Fire"  unfolds  its  beginning ;  while  its  final 
culmination  is  presented  in  "  The  Throne  of  David." 
The  central  figure  of  "  The  Prince  of  the  House  of 
David,"  is  JESUS  the  "  Son  of  David,"  our  most  blessed 
Lord  and  Saviour.  The  time  of  that  work  embraces  a 
period  of  about  four  years  from  the  appearing  of  John 
the  Baptist  to  the  ascension  of  our  Lord. 

Thus  the  three  books  cover  the  whole  field  of  Hebraic 
history,  from  the  Bondage  in  Egypt  to  the  reign  of  Solo 
mon,  and  thence  to  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus.  There  is 
no  necessary  connection  between  the  books.  They  may 
be  read  in  chronological  order,  (which  is  best,)  or  sepa 
rately,  or  the  last  named,  first. 

We  now  commit  this  work  to  the  readers  of  "  The 
Prince  of  the  House  of  David"  and  of  "  The  Pillar  of 
Fire,"  with  the  prayer  that  it  may  inspire  them  with  a  de 
sire  "  to  search  the  Scriptures"  for  the  treasures  of  wisdom 
they  contain;  and  above  all  for  the  knowledge  of  "the 
way  of  Life,"  revealed  in  their  sacred  pages,  which 
ever  lead  the  devout  reader  to  the  CROSS  as  the  only 
solution  of  the  mystery  of  this  present  life,  and  the  true 
key  to  that  of  the  world  to  come. 

CHRIST  CHURCH  RECTORY,  ) 

Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  January  26,  1860.    ) 


AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTORY  EPISTLE 

TO 

THE  READER. 


THE  twin-valleys  of  the  Euphrates  and  Tigris  received  the 
first  families  of  the  human  race  after  the  flood.  Nimrod,  the 
great-grandson  of  Noah,  whom  sacred  history  and  tradition 
term  "a  mighty  hunter,"  or  "warrior/'  and  whom  profane  his 
tory  calls  the  first  "king  of  men,"  is  regarded  as  the  founder 
of  Babylon,  the  oldest  kingdom  of  the  world. 

Ninus,  a  prince  of  Babylon,  invading  the  beautiful  valley  of 
the  Tigris,  founded,  not  long  after  the  dispersion  at  Babel,  the 
city  of  Nineveh  upon  the  banks  of  that  river.  These  two  cities 
became  the  centres  of  two  monarchies  which  long  rivaled  each 
other  in  splendor  and  power.  Nineveh  ultimately  gained  the 
ascendency,  and,  extending  her  sceptre  over  the  plains  of  the 
Euphrates,  placed  one  of  her  own  princes  upon  its  throne  as 
tributary  to  her  crown. 

In  the  progress  of  centuries  Babylon  recovered  her  indepen 
dence,  and  advanced  to  a  position  of  wealth  and  grandeur  that 
subsequently  rendered  her  the  second  city  of  the  earth,  Nineveh 
still  retaining  her  imperial  supremacy  as  mistress  of  the  East ! 
Her  kings  were  warriors  and  conquerors  who  made  the  science 
of  arms  the  noblest  study  of  man,  and  regarded  war  his  highest 
happiness.  In  times  of  peace  they  devoted  their  leisure  to 
adorning  their  capital  with  superb  palaces,  gardens,  terraces, 
lakes,  and  monuments  of  unrivaled  magnificence. 

(11) 


12  AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTORY  EPISTLE 

The  obscurity  wh«.ch  veils  the  history  of  those  early  ages  of 
oriental  dominion  and  splendor,  has  concealed  from  us,  in  a 
great  degree,  tda  true  condition  of  that  venerable  empire  for 
i'Ouvly  a  thousand  years  of  its  most  ancient  progress.  Profane 
history,  borrowing  her  light  from  the  dim  torch  of  tradition, 
casts  but  here  and  there  an  uncertain  illumination  into  the  deep 
twilight  of  those  dawning  ages  of  the  world.  Now  it  re 
veals  a  Ninus  the  Great,  extending  his  dominions  to  Ethiopia 
and  the  Mediterranean ;  and  now  a  queen  Seniiraniis,  represen 
ted  as  enterprising  and  magnanimous,  martial  and  powerful,  who 
completed  the  conquest  of  all  the  East !  Then  a  brilliant  and 
luxuriant  monarch  Ninyas  appears,  who  adorns  his  empire  and 
prefers  pleasure  to  the  hardy  enterprises  of  military  glory. 

A  long  line  of  princes  more  or  less  indolent  and  effeminate 
follow  in  a  succession  of  luxurious  reigns,  covering  several  cen 
turies  when,  under  the  reign  of  Teutames  the  IV,  one  of  these 
kings,  we  hear  of  the  re-conquest  of  Babylon  and  Media,  and 
also  of  an  embassy  from  a  Pharaoh  of  Egypt  to  his  court. 
This  was  the  king  Moeris,  successor  to  the  Pharaoh  who  was 
destroyed  with  his  armies  in  the  Red  sea. 

Here,  then,  the  obscurity  of  mere  tradition,  which  hitherto 
had  presented  us  but  dim  representations  of  the  past  of  Nineveh, 
is  removed  by  the  full  light  of  positive  history  bearing  upon  it. 
Egypt  and  Assyria,  of  which  Nineveh  was  the  capital,  are  hereby 
placed  cotemporaneously  on  the  same  historic  page ;  and  hence 
forth  belong,  equally,  to  the  legitimate  domain  of  profane  his 
tory.* 

But  allusion  to  Nineveh  does  not  appear  in  the  sacred  tradi 
tionary  records  of  the  Jews  until  abcut  two  hundred  years  after 
the  conquest  of  the  Promised  Land ;  nor  in  the  sacred  Scrip 
tures  until  several  centuries  later ;  that  is,  under  that  name. 

Yet  the  splendor,  power,  and  wide  dominion  of  the  Assyrian 
Empire  was  not  unknown  to  the  Jews.  The  neighboring 
kingdom  of  Tyre  had  received  ambassadors  from  Nineveh  long 
before  the  time  of  Saul ;  and  the  Jews  were  always  on  terms 

*  The  cuneic  inscriptions  revealed  by  recent  investigations  at  Nineveh,  as 
far  as  translated,  promise  a.  complete  history  of  Assyria  up  to  a  period  much 
earlier  than  the  era  of  the  call  of  Abraiu  from  Chaldea. 


TO    THE    READER,  13 

of  friendship  with  Phoenicia ;  but  until  the  time  of  Saul  the 
Fsraelites  and  Assyrians  were  not  brought  into  relations  of  polity 
and  ordinary  national  intercourse. 

The  time  and  the  occasion  on  which  the  Assyrians  may  be 
supposed  first  to  have  held  official  communication  with  the 
people  of  God  are,  so  far  as  is  known,  revealed  in  the  following 
pages. 

SAMUEL  was  then  the  Prophet,  Priest,  and  Lord  of  the 
Twelve  Tribes ;  for  his  rule  as  a  Judge  of  Israel  had  not  only 
become  absolute,  but  in  the  exercise  of  power  he  was  supreme 
Dictator.  Vice-gerent  of  God,  controller  of  the  Priesthood, 
and  Judge  by  the  voice  of  the  people,  he  governed  without  op 
position  by  the  dictates  of  his  single  will.  Under  his  long  and 
able  administration  of  affairs  he  consolidated  the  government 
of  the  Jewish  tribes,  and  having  shown  himself  also  a  soldier  in 
their  wars  with  the  Philistines,  they  were  inspired  with  the 
idea  of  making  him  their  king!  Noble  in  presence,  grave 
with  wisdom,  venerable  with  years,  he  commanded  even  the 
admiration  of  the  enemies  of  his  nation  ;  and  his  fame  as  a 
"Seer"  extended  to  the  kingdoms  of  the  heathen  around  him, 
while  his  name  was  spoken  even  with  reverence  at  the  haughty 
and  luxurious  court  of  Belus  the  king  of  Assyria. 

At  this  time  the  city  of  Nineveh,  where  Belus  reigned  mon 
arch  of  all  the  East  including  Babylon,  was  at  the  height  of  its 
magnificence  and  power.  Its  population  was  more  than  a  half 
a  million.  It  was  a  four  days'  march  to  compass  its  lofty, 
tower-embattled  walls.  Every  house  was  enclosed  by  gardens, 
and  the  top  of  the  walls  was  for  miles  ornamented  with  trees 
and  beds  of  flowers.  Its  palaces  and  temples,  shrines,  altars, 
and  statues  were  without  number;  its  terraces,  lakes,  walks, 
and  colonnades  forming  an  endless  labyrinth  amid  the  most 
charming  artificial  scenery. 

Enthroned  in  his  palace  in  the  centre  of  his  mighty  me 
tropolis,  the  youthful  Belus,  not  yet  twenty-five  years  old,  and 
recently  come  to  the  inheritance  of  the  sceptre  of  Assyria  from 
his  mother  Arphaxa,  administered  the  government  of  his  vast 
kingdom  with  wisdom  and  prudence  beyond  his  years.  Instead 
of  giving  himself  up  to  indolence  and  luxury  after  the  example 


14  AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTORY  EPISTLE 

of  many  of  his  ancestors,  he  sought  to  enlarge  his  dominions 
eastward  to  the  Ind,  and  southward  to  the  "  Sea  of  the  Sun," 
westward,  and  northward,  and  also  to  form  alliances  of  friend 
ship  and  commerce  with  powerful  nations  such  as  Phoenicia 
and  Egypt. 

His  mother,  who  was  an  Egyptian  princess,  the  daughter  of 
a  royal  ambassador  to  the  court  of  Nineveh  from  that  of 
Thebes  and  Memphis,  on  the  day  before  her  death,  calling  him 
to  the  side  of  her  couch,  said  to  him: 

"  My  son,  I  am  about  to  depart  this  life  to  enter  into  the 
world  of  the  gods !  To  you  I  entrust  the  sceptre  of  my  realms. 
I  know  you  will  wield  it  with  mercy  and  judgment ;  for  I  have, 
from  your  childhood,  trained  you  to  this  great  end !  One  pro 
mise  before  I  die  I  ask  of  you !" 

"  It  is  granted,  royal  and  beloved  mother,  ere  the  words  are 
formed  on  your  lips,"  answered  the  prince,  kneeling  by  her 
pillow  and  bending  over  her  with  glittering  eye-lids,  and  in 
deep  emotion. 

"  I  wish  you  to  strengthen  your  empire  by  an  alliance, 
stronger  than  that  of  a  treaty,  with  my  native  country.  The 
haughty  Pharaoh  now  on  the  throne,  is  a  prince  of  a  new  dy 
nasty,  unknown  to  my  father's  royal  House.  Send  an  embassy 
to  him  congratulating  him  on  his  accession  to  the  double  crown 
of  Thebes  and  Memphis,  and  ask  in  marriage  his  daughter  as 
your  queen.  I  have  heard  she  is  fair  and  gentle.  He  will 
consent  !  And  thus  the  two  most  powerful  nations  that  dividg 
the  globe  will  dwell  in  peace ;  for  without  such  an  alliance 
war  would  be  the  natural  attitude  of  two  great  empires,  each 
ambitious  to  rule  supreme  on  the  earth !" 

"  I  would  rather  conquer  Egypt  and  subdue  her  proud  Pharaoh 
to  my  sceptre,  than  wed  his  daughter  were  she  fairer,  dear 
mother,  than  the  evening  star,"  answered  Belus  with  a  smile. 

"  Nay ;  let  there  be  peace  !  Secure  your  crown  by  this  al 
liance.  Promise  me  you  will  ask  the  hand  of  the  Egyptian 
princess,  and  so  be  at  one  with  the  powerful  Pharaohs." 

The  prince  bowed  his  head  upon  the  jeweled  fingers  of  hij 
still  lovely  mother,  and  answered : 

"  I  obey,  dear  mother  '" 


TO    THE    READER.  15 

"  May  Assarac,  the  powerful  and  wise  god  of  your  race, 
bless  you/'  she  answered,  laying  her  hands  upon  his  youthful 
brow. 

One  year  after  the  death  of  the  queen,  and  the  new  king  had 
placed  the  affairs  of  his  kingdom  on  a  firm  basis,  he  recalled 
the  promise  he  had  made  to  his  mother ;  and  sending  for  one 
of  the  young  nobles  of  his  court  he  spoke  to  him  : 

"  0  Arbaces,  companion  of  my  childhood,  friend  of  my  man 
hood,  faithful  and  true  in  all  things,  I  have  sent  for  thee  to 
confide  to  thy  trust  a  sacred  mission,  by  command  of  the  queen, 
my  mother,  now  blessed  with  the  divine  gods.  Thou  knowest 
my  mother  was  a  princess  of  Masr,  a  niece  of  Pharaoh,  daugh 
ter  of  his  brother  Thothmis,  who  came  to  my  grandfather's 
court  on  an  embassy  of  friendship,  asking  him  to  unite  with 
him  in  a  war  to  crush  the  twelve  warlike  Republics  of  the 
Chaldean  Israelites,  and  divide  their  country  by  the  great  Sea 
between  us  that  our  borders  might  unite  !  My  royal  grandfa 
ther  Nabopolassar  refused,  preferring  in  his  sagacity  that  these 
Jews  should  continue  to  hold  their  country  as  a  safe  separator 
between  Egypt  and  Assyria,  not  caring  to  have  the  powerful 
monarch  of  the  Nile  too  near  a  neighbor.  But  in  order  to 
soften  his  denial  and  prevent  hostilities  arising  out  of  his  po 
litic  refusal,  he  proposed  a  union  between  his  son  (my  royal 
father  Arphaxad)  and  the  prince-ambassador's  fair  daughter 
who  was  with  him.  The  marriage  secured  and  sealed  a  peace ! 
My  mother,  who  took  the  name  of  her  husband,  and  who  has 
ruled  so  well  and  powerfully  since  my  father's  death,  when 
near  her  own,  commanded  me  to  send  to  Egypt  for  a  wife,  also 
from  thence.  I  obey  her.  I  have  confidence,  dear  Arbaces, 
in  your  judgment,  wisdom,  discretion,  and  ability.  I  have  se 
lected  you,  young  as  you  are,  for  this  delicate  mission.  I  wish 
you  to  be  ready  to  depart  within  thirty  days.  It  is  a  long 
jouiney  and  requires  unusual  preparation.  You  will  take  with 
you  a  befitting  retinue — not  large  enough  to  alarm  the  lesser 
nations  whose  territories  you  traverse,  yet  numerous  enough 
for  protection  against  insult  and  to  give  dignity  as  you  enter 
Egypt  to  your  embassy.  You  will  take  with  you  full  royal 
equipage,  with  a  large  train  of  household  officers  and  servants 


1(5  AUTHOR'S    INTRODUCTORY   EPISTLE 

as  becomes  the  representative  of  a  powerful  Assyrian  king, 
a.nd  your  own  rank  as  a  Prince  of  the  Blood ;  for  are  we  not 
cousins  but  twice  removed,  my  dear  Arba'ces  ?  The  tent  of 
cloth  of  gold  which  was  my  mother's  you  will  also  take  with 
you  to  be  the  abode,  as  you  return,  of  my  future  bride.  If  she 
be  but  half  as  fair  as  my  mother,  I  shall  be  happy,  my  friend ; 
but  if  she  prove  as  plain  and  dark  as  an  Ethiop  maid,  I  will  be 
content ;  for  will  she  not  be  my  mother's  elect  ? 

A  slight  smile  played  in  the  young  and  handsome  king's 
eyes  as  he  spoke  these  words,  and  soon  afterwards  the  tall  and 
comely  young  prince  Arbaces  left  the  presence. 

Thirty  days  elapsed,  and  the  military  escort  of  the  ambassador, 
consisting  of  eight  hundred  horsemen  in  burnished  armor  with 
helmets  of  gold,  and  two  hundred  chariots,  was  drawn  up  before 
the  lofty  gate  of  the  magnificent  "  House  of  Nimrod,"  the 
hereditary  palace  of  the  Ninevite  Kings  In  the  ornamented 
square  in  front,  guarded  by  two  gigantic  lions  stood  the  statue 
of  the  "  King  of  men,"  a  colossal  monolith,  towering  seventy 
feet  into  the  air,  holding  aloft  above  his  head  a  spear,  the  golden 
point  of  which  first  caught  the  blazing  rays  of  the  morning 
sun. 

The  horsemen  and  chariots  were  drawn  up  in  a  crescent  open 
towards  the  palace.  In  a  private  audience  room  within  it, 
stood  the  young  king  in  the  act  of  taking  leave  of  Arbaces  : 

"  Farewell,  my  cousin  !  The  God  of  Ninus  and  the  Con 
troller  of  the  stars  attend  you.  Do  not  delay.  I  shall  expect 
your  return  within  four  months.  Convey  the  jewels,  I  have 
entrusted  to  you,  to  the  maiden  with  your  own  hands,  present 
ing  her  therewith  my  heart's  lowest  homage. 

"I  have  directed  you  to  take  the  route  through  the  land  of 
the  Jewish  people,  in  order  that  you  may  have  audience  with 
their  mighty  Seer  and  Friend  of  the  gods,  Isamel,  and  secure 
with  him  a  friendly  alliance,  so  that  he  may  not  be  won  to  the 
interest  of  Egypt,  (if  this  nuptial  embassy  fail,)  but  be  bound 
to  Assyria  forever  !  A  people,  even  though  it  have  no  king. 
that  can  bring  into  the  field  one  hundred  thousand  fighting 
men,  as  the  Caravan  chiefs  from  thence  report,  is  not  to  be 
demised  as  an  enemy  or  as  a  friend.  See  this  Prophet  of  the 


TO   THE    READER.  17 

gods,  therefore,  whose  fame  is  so  wide,  and  make  the  alliance 
sure  to  us.  Learn,  while  there,  something  of  their  policy  and 
mode  of  government,  and  unravel  to  me  how  they  can  have  au 
thority  or  laws  without  a  monarch." 

"  I  will  not  fail,  my  noble  prince,"  answered  Arbaces,  "  to 
record  everything  of  interest  I  meet  with,  and  from  time  to 
time  will  send  you  by  caravans  my  letters,  or  bring  the  tablets 
with  the  records  of  my  journey  to  you  in  person  on  my  re 
turn." 

"  Present  the  Chaldaic- Jewish  Prophet  Isamel  this  jewel, 
and  ask  him  to  consult  the  gods  to  know  if  my  reign  will  be 
long  and  prosperous  ;  and  you  will  also  ascertain  their  real  feel 
ings  towards  Egypt." 

"  AVithout  a  doubt,  they  still  partake  of  the  ancient  hostility. 
A  people  once  in  bondage  to  a  kingdom,  will  never  love  it 
well,"  answered  Arbaces. 

"  True  ;  no  real  amity  can  exist.  It  was  from  one  of  their 
sacred  books  in  the  temple  of  Assarac  I  had  interpreted  to  me 
by  a  priest,  then  my  tutor,  the  account  of  their  wonderful  de 
liverance  by  a  mighty  warrior  who  divided  the  sea  with  the 
eword  of  his  god,  and  turning  the  fiery  blade  towards  Egypt 
destroyed,  at  a  blow,  the  whole  host  of  the  pursuing  king.  I 
have  felt  a  desire  to  learn  more  of  their  wonderful  history ;  and 
if,  when  in  their  land,  thou  shouldst  find  other  books  that  con 
tinue  it,  purchase  and  bring  them  to  me.  Reme.ses,  Prince  of 
Damascus,  whose  letters  to  the  King  of  Phoenicia  were  given  by 
a  Syrian  ambassador,  four  hundred  years  ago,  to  one  of  my  an 
cestors,  wrote  that  he  left  them  in  the  wilderness  seeking  some 
country  which  their  gods  commanded  them  to  conquer  and 
settle  in." 

"  I  have  also  seen  those  ancient  letters  of  the  Syrian  Prince 
Kemeses  to  King  Sesostris  his  father,  written  ?nore  than  four 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.  I  remember  his  description  of 
that  mighty  nation  of  the  Hebrews  and  the  power  of  their 
gods,"  answered  Arbaces. 

"  If  thou  canst  hear  of  farther  writings  of  that  people's  pro 
gress  and  conquest  of  the  land  wherein  for  four  hundred  years 
they  have  now  dwelt  without  a  king,  see  that  a  cop}"  of  the 

9 


18  AUTHOR  S    INTRODUCTORY   EPISTLE 

N)oks  be  obtained;  and  what  thou  seest,  my  Arbaces,  in  thy 
'^ravels  write  me,  in  order,  (as  llemeses  wrote  liis  father  and 
king,)  the  events  as  they  transpire,  and  I  will  on  thy  return 
have  them  inscribed  on  vellum  and  bound  in  a  casket  of  gold, 
and  placed  with  the  other  royal  books  in  the  archives  of  the 
Palace  of  .Minus." 

"  It  will  be  too  great  an  honor,  most  august  king/'  answered 
Arbaces  modestly ;  "  but  I  will  do  what  lies  within  my  poor 
ability  to  preserve  for  your  perusal  a  clear  history  of  the  events 
which  are  before  me  in  the  strange  countries  which  I  am  about 
to  visit." 

After  some  more  words  of  friendship,  which  became  rather 
the  parting  of  brothers  than  of  a  king  with  a  subject,  the  mon 
arch  embraced  his  ambassador  and  took  leave  of  him  at  the 
door  of  the  audience  chamber. 

The  Prince  Arbaces,  preceded  by  a  stately  chamberlain,  clad 
in  a  purple  tunic  embroidered  with  stars  and  flowers,  and  wear 
ing  upon  his  head  a  tiara  of  velvet  with  the  crest  of  a  brilliant 
serpent's  head,  and  covered  with  a  net  of  woven  threads  of 
gold,  passed  through  a  stately  hall  open  above  to  the  clear  azure 
sky,  and  decorated  with  the  most  elegant  figures  painted  in 
vivid  colors  upon  cedar-wood  panels.  Above  the  noble  entrance 
to  this  magnificent  hall  was  placed  the  emblematical  winged 
circle  of  the  god  Assarac,  dazzling  with  the  radiance  of  pre 
cious  stones. 

Leaving  this  hall,  he  traversed  a  corridor,  the  columns  of 
which  were  richly  gilded,  and  the  cornices  carved  and  covered  with 
plated  gold,  while  the  architrave  consisted  of  the  rarest  woods 
worked  with  surpassing  skill.  Compartments  or  shields,  on  the 
plinth  of  the  columns,  were  surrounded  by  elegant  mouldinga 
with  borders  of  polished  acacia-wood  inlaid  with  ivory  and  sil 
ver  ;  while  the  spaces  between  the  pilasters  were  divided  into 
oval  and  square  depressed  panels,  painted  with  flowers  and  the 
beautiful  forms  of  ideal  animals. 

Another  apartment  which  he  traversed  was  lined  with  sculp 
tured  figures,  standing  in  noble  attitudes.  Kings,  warriors,  and 
priests  were  represented  in  processions  amid  the  sacred  groves 
He  walked  upon  alabaster  slabs  which  recorded  in  letters  of 


TO    THE    READER.  19 

gold  the  achievinents  of  the  monarch  who  had  built  that  portion 
of  the  palace. 

lie  now  crossed  a  court  of  fountains,  and  came  to  a  majestic 
doorway  guarded  by  gigantic  winged  lions  with  human  faces  of 
the  most  benign  and  kingly  aspects.  At  this  entrance  stood  a 
number  of  the  palace  guard,  who  saluted  the  prince  ambassador 
with  military  homage  as  he  passed  through  the  portal.  At 
the  extremity  of  another  court,  he  walked  through  a  gateway 
guarded  by  colossal  winged  bulls  of  white  alabaster,  while  above 
the  gate  were  sculptured  the  most  elaborate  and  elegant  designs 
of  a  mingled  sacred  and  warlike  character. 

He  now  reached  the  vestibule  of  this  vast  palace  of  the  Assyrian 
Kings,  to  the  magnificence  and  grandeur  of  which  a  hundred  inon- 
archs  had  contributed,  until  it  covered  a  half  a  league  square  with 
its  kingly  edifices.  This  lofty  room  was  painted  and  decorated 
with  gold  and  azure,  ivory  and  cedar,  in  every  part.  Along  the 
sides  were  represented  winged  priests  crowning  kings,  proces 
sions  of  chariots  and  horsemen,  and  the  august  ceremonies  of 
religion — all  sculptured  in  pure  alabaster  and  colored  with  the 
most  brilliant  tints  of  the  artist's  pencil.  Over  the  gateway 
was  represented  as  a  colossal  figure  in  colors  the  first  Sardana- 
palus  in  an  attitude  of  adoration  before  the  starry  heavens, 
holding  a  golden  cup  in  his  hand  filled  with  offerings. 

This  gorgeous  gate  led  to  the  outer  portal  of  the  palace  ;  and 
Arbaces,  passing  through  the  lines  of  guards  in  brazen  armor, 
came  where  his  horse  was  held  by  two  Indian  slaves,  and  mount 
ing  him,  he  rode  to  join  his  legion.  Placing  himself  with  hi? 
chief  officers,  all  glittering  in  gold  and  steel,  at  its  head,  it 
wheeled  into  column  and  dashed  onward  through  the  super)) 
avenue  which  led  from  the  front  of  the  "  palace  of  the  kings" 
to  the  western  gate  of  the  city. 

This  avenue  was  broad  enough  for  the  two  hundred  chariots  to 
drive  along  it  abreast.  It  was  lined  with  palaces,  before  the  pillars 
of  the  gates  of  which  reposed  majestic  winged  bulls;  or  alabaster 
lions  of  colossal  size,  having  faces  of  men ;  or  stood  statues  and 
winged  animals  of  the  most  ideal  yet  elegant  forms.  Statues,  in 
fitone,  of  serpents  in  vast  coils  crouched  at  the  doors  of  temples; 
gardens,  lakes,  terraces,  and  fountains  adorned  the  fronts  of  these 


20  AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTORY  EPISTLE 

palaces,  which  extended  in  uninterrupted  splendor  and  beauty 
four  miles  along  the  avenue,  before  they  terminated  in  a  vast 
ruadrangular  castle  which  defended  the  gigantic  gateway  of  the 
city. 

Passing  through  this  portal  the  Prince  Arbaces  was  followed 
by  his  brilliant  escort  until  crossing  the  Tigris,  which  is  made 
to  environ  the  whole  city  as  a  means  of  warlike  defence,  by  a 
bridge  supported  by  one  hundred  piers,  each  a  colossus,  they 
came  in  sight  of  the  royal  caravan  in  waiting  a  mile  from  the 
gate,  by  the  fountain  of  Ninus. 

This  caravan  consisted  of  two  hundred  camels,  bearing  tents, 
and  provisions,  and  other  equipage  for  the  long  journey  into 
Egypt ;  of  three  hundred  led  horses,  four  hundred  mules,  and 
wagons  four-score.  It  was  an  equipment  such  as  was  provided 
for  a  warlike  expedition  to  a  remote  province,  only  the  whole 
was  more  costly  and  superb  in  its  character,  as  became  a  nuptial 
embassy  from  the  king  of  so  great  a  realm  as  that  of  Assyria  to 
a  haughty  Pharaoh  of  Egypt. 

At  a  given  signal  the  caravan  moved  onward ;  and  as  each 
division  had  its  captain  or  chief,  with  a  royal  supervisor  over  all 
who  took  the  whole  responsibility  of  the  conduct  of  this  vast 
retinue,  the  young  ambassador  had  only  to  ride  at  the  head  of 
bis  legion  and  leisurely  pursue  his  march  westward. 

After  the  third  day  they  had  left  the  beautiful  valley  of  the 
Tigris  with  its  pleasant  and  familiar  scenes ;  and,  taking  a 
southwest  course,  the  seventh  evening  Arbaces  riding  forward 
came  in  sight  of  the  Euphrates  winding  through  its  charming 
valley  far  distant,  and  shining  in  the  setting  sun  like  a  tortuous 
rierpent  with  scales  of  burnished  gold,  lying  along  the  undula 
ting  horizon.  Upon  its  banks  glittered  a  bronze  roofed  temple, 
and  along  its  shores  shone  the  palaces  of  the  priests ;  for  this 
was  a  sacred  city  of  the  ancient  empire  of  Babylon.  One  hun 
dred  miles  below  stood  Babylon  in  glory  and  magnificence  only 
second  to  Nineveh,  and  governed  by  a  prince  appointed  by  the 
Assyrian  monarch  ;  for  the  two  dominions  were  now  united 
under  one  sceptre. 

"  I  would  gladly,"  said  Arbaces  to  his  chief-captain  who  sat 
upon  his  horse  near  him,  "  have  taken  our  course  more  south- 


TO    THE    READER.  21 

warelly  and  passed  Babylon  in  sight,  if  not  through  it ;  but  1 
will  do  that  on  my  return  from  Egypt ;  for  I  would  fain  behold 
the  southern  capital  of  our  vast  united  empire  !" 

"  It  were  better,  my  lord  prince,"  said  the  gray-bearded 
chief-captain  with  deference,  "  not  to  trust  the  fair  princess  or 
even  yourself  with  so  small  a  retinue  with  Belesis  of  Babylon. 
It  has  been  rumored  of  late  that  he  is  ambitious  to  make  him 
self  king ;  and  that  he  already  conspires  to  win  the  army  in 
Babylon  over  to  his  interests.  Your  presence  there  might 
bring  the  matter  to  a  head  by  the  temptation  which  it  would 
present  to  him  to  seize  upon  you  as  a  hostage,  or  you  and  the 
princess  on  your  return  !  As  your  highness  is  the  king's 
cousin,  he  might  feel  that  he  could  dictate  terms  to  Belus  with 
your  person  in  his  power.  No,  my  prince,  let  us  not  trust  the 
wily  governor  of  Babylon.  We  are  now  in  his  Euphratian 
realms  and  near  enough  to  his  metropolis." 

"  Say  you  so  ?"  answered  Arbaces  :  "  then  ought  the  king 
presently  to  know  that  he  can  not  confide  power  to  that  ambi 
tious  Babylonian  prince  !" 

"  His  majesty  suspects  the  purposes  of  his  viceroy ;  when 
they  are  confirmed,  the  sun  is  not  far  off,  which,  rising  on 
Belesis  with  his  vice-regal  crown  on  his  head  catching  and  re 
flecting  its  beams,  will  set  upon  him  shorter  by  crown  and 
head  ;"  answered  the  old  noble  with  stern  decision. 

Encamping  upon  the  broad,  flower-enameled  plains  of  the  stately 
Euphrates,  the  next  morning  they  crossed  it  near  the  temple 
of  Bactris  by  a  bridge,  adorned  with  statues  of  sacred  figures ; 
while  at  the  extremity,  in  a  grove  before  the  temple,  was  placed 
us  a  guard  a  symbolic  statue  compounded  of  a  man,  a  lion,  an 
ox,  and  an  eagle.  Past  it  was  the  "  sacred  way"  by  which 
none  but  the  priests  could  enter  the  holy  place. 

The  caravan  wound  slowly  around  the  consecrated  grove  and 
Arbaces  stopped  by  the  side  of  an  altar  where  stood  seven  priests, 
the  chief  with  wings,  as  a  part  of  his  costume,  of  the  most 
brilliant  plumage  of  oriental  birds  extending  from  his  shoulders 
to  his  feet,  giving  him  an  aspect  of  singular  majesty  and  glory. 
His  white  beard  flowed  to  his  girdle. 

He  was  reverently  saluted  by  the  young  Assyrian  ambassador, 


22  AUTHOR'S  INTRODUCTORY  EPISTLE 

who  asked  for  his  blessing  and  prayers.  The  High  Priest,  who 
was  about  to  offer  up  the  usual  morning  sacrifice,  received  him 
with  benignity,  and  having  learned  the  object  of  his  expedition, 
said, 

"  If  thou  passest  through  the  land  where  dwelleth  the  mighty 
Hebrew  Prophet  Isamel,  convey  to  him  the  homage  of  Do- 
danah  the  chief  priest  of  Bacchus ;  for  we  have  heard  of  his 
wonderful  power  and  favor  with  the  gods  of  his  land,  and  that  he 
calleth  lightning  from  the  skies  with  a  wave  of  his  wand ! 
We  honor  the  prophets  of  all  gods !  for,  though  the  deities  are 
as  numerous  as  the  stars,  their  power  is  derived  from  one  and 
the  same  Supreme  Spirit  of  the  Universe.  But  this  is  a  mys 
tery  of  our  religion,  0  prince,  and  revealed  only  to  the  pious, 
which  I  believe  thou  art,  being  cousin  to  the  great  king,  and 
taught  in  all  that  concerns  the  great  and  good  to  know.  But 
the  ignorant  see  the  Supreme  only  in  marble  and  in  symbols. 
But  we  perceive  Him  through  the  mind  and  thought,  and  need 
no  material  form  in  order  to  worship  Him !" 

The  High  Priest  having  thus  affably  conversed  with  Arbaces, 
as  to  a  person  of  wisdom  and  prudence,  directed  the  morning 
worship  to  proceed,  as  the  sun  at  that  moment  lifted  the  edge 
of  his  shield  above  the  horizon. 

The  six  priests  immediately  struck  each  a  cymbal  held  in  his 
hand,  lifting  their  voices  in  a  sonorous  chant,  while  the  venerable 
High  Priest,  taking  sacred  fire  from  a  censer,  kindled  a  fagot 
of  fragrant  wood  laid  upon  the  altar. 

In  a  moment  it  blazed  high  in  the  air,  when  an  eighth  priest 
advancing  placed  a  serpent  of  bronze  upon  the  altar  and  a 
beautiful  youth  swung  incense  before  it,  offering  it  worship. 

The  priests  chanted  as  they  beat  their  cymbals ; 

"Hail  wisdom  and  light! 

"These  are  the  powers  of  the  Universe  1 

"  These  create  all  things  !" 

"There  is  nothing  greater  than  light; 
"  There  is  nothing  superior  to  wisdom," 

answered  the  High  Priest  holding  the  serpent  up  to  the  morning 
sun  now  in  full  splendor  above  the  horizon. 


TO    THE    READER.  23 

"  The  essence  of  all  things  is  light ;"  chanted  the  youth  who 
swung  the  censer,  upon  whose  breast  hung  a  winged  circle  of 
gold. 

"  Light  is  hidden  under  all  that  shines  ! 

"  Evil  and  light  can  never  dwell  together  ! 

"  The  spirit  of  darkness  flies  before  light  I 

"  Sun,  moon,  stars,  lightning,  fire, — these 

"Rule  the  Universe — these  are  the  essence  of  God  !** 

Thus  chanted  responsive  the  priest  and  his  assistants  in  slow 
and  solemn  measure,  while  Arbaces  and  his  officers  in  reverent 
attitudes  of  worship  stood  by. 

When  the  whole  ceremony  of  the  morning  rites  was  over, 
the  High  Priest  invited  Arbaces  to  enter  his  palace  and  refresh 
himself  for  a  few  hours  after  the  fatigues  of  his  journey.  But 
the  young  soldier  urging  haste  in  his  mission  declined ;  and  re 
ceiving  the  blessing  of  this  chief  of  the  Magi  rejoined  the  still 
advancing  caravan. 

Their  course  now  was  due  south  for  two  days  and  then  for 
four  days  directly  west.  On  the  fourteenth  day  after  leaving 
Nineveh  the}r  came  in  sight  of  a  range  of  high,  dark  mountains 
from  the  summit  of  which,  the  chief  of  the  caravan  informed 
Arbaces,  was  visible  the  valley  of  the  river  of  Anirnuu  or 
Jordan.'' 

The  prince  was  overjoyed  at  the  sight  of  this  vast  gigantic 
mountain  wall ;  for  its  level  summit,  unbroken  for  leagues  by 
any  indenture,  gave  it  the  aspect  of  a  wall  upreared,  as  tradi- 
dition  declared,  by  the  antediluvian  giants,  to  keep  out  the 
great  flood  from  their  abodes.  He  knew  that  the  Jordan 
flowed  through  the  land  of  the  Hebrews,  and  that  he  should  be 
half  way  in  his  journey  to  Egypt  on  crossing  it. 

Galloping  forward  with  a  hundred  of  his  body  guard  as  a 
protection  against  any  attack  from  the  parties  of  wild  horsemen 
which,  armed  with  long  lances,  for  two  days  had  been  hovering 
on  the  wings  of  the  caravan,  he  in  three  hours  reached  the 
mountain,  and  in  another  had  wound  his  way  upwards  to  the 
top. 

Wide  and  beautiful  exceedingly  was  the  prospect  which  burst 
upon  his  eyes.  From  the  western  foot  of  the  mountains 


24  AUTHOR'S  INTRODUDTORY  EPISTLE 

stretched  a  fair  green  valley,  dotted  with  villages,  small  fenced 
cities  and  castles,  and  waving  with  fields  of  golden  corn,  rich 
with  vineyards,  and  verdant  with  secluded  vales  studded  with 
flocks  and  herds. 

"  This  is  a  land  of  plenty  as  well  as  of  loveliness.  It  truly 
flows  with  niilk  and  honey.  This  must  be  that  country  of  the 
Hebrews — the  rich  and  glorious  land  promise.d  to  them  four 
hundred  years  ago  by  their  leader  Musis,  as  is  written  in  the 
rolls  of  Remeses  of  Damascus.  And  can  there  be  such  a  peacj1 
and  prosperity  among  a  people  without  a  king  to  rule  over 
them  V  exclaimed  Arbaces  with  animation. 

"  It  is  rumored,  my  lord,  prince,"  said  Ninus,  his  armor  bearer 
a  tall  youth  of  humble  birth,  and  fair  countenance  with  the  cour 
ageous  looks  of  a  lion,  "  that  they  have  a  god  for  their  king  who 
dwells  in  a  tent  of  gold  and  silken  curtains,  in  the  form  of  a  star 
of  pure  fire,  on  which  no  man  but  their  chief  magician  can  look 
and  live." 

"  Where  heardest  thou  this  tale,  Ninus  ?"  asked  the  prince. 

"  My  mother's  brother,  my  lord,  was  a  merchant  of  pearls 
and  precious  dyes  ;  and  once  a  year  made  a  journey  with  others 
to  the  city  of  Damascus,  the  fairest  town  for  beauty  of  site  and 
riches  on  earth.  Once  he  extended  his  journey  into  Egypt, 
passing  through  the  Hebrew  country.  He  said  it  was  a  brave 
people,  but  chiefly  tillers  of  the  soil  and  shepherds ;  that  they 
had  no  king  over  them  as  other  nations,  but  professed  that 
their  god  was  their  only  king ;  and  they  showed  my  uncle  from 
a  distance  the  gorgeous  tent,  which  they  called  a  tabernacle, 
wherein  their  great  king-god  dwelt.  They  had,  however,  a 
sort  of  governors  called  Judges,  men  and  even  women,  whom 
for  great  exploits  in  war  or  some  extraordinary  favor  done  the 
nation,  they  elected  for  life  to  rule  over  them ;  but  that  they 
could  do  nothing  save  by  the  authority  of  the  king-god." 

"  This  is  a  very  strange  government,"  answered  the  prince ; 
"  and  I  am  glad  you  remember  so  clearly  what  your  merchant 
uncle  used  to  relate  to  you  thereof.  But  we  will  soon  see  for 
ourselves.  What  a  fair  land  !  Behold  the  river  between  us 
and  that  hill-country,  how,  like  a  silver  thread  running  through 
a  green  mantle,  it  meanders  along  the  emerald  valley ;  now 


TO    THE    READER.  25 

flashing  in  the  sun  as  it  hurries  on  its  swift  course;  now  hidder 
oy  cliffs  ;  now  glimmering  amid  the  trees  !" 

As  they  rode  along  the  mountain  ridge,  they  saw  walled 
cities,  which  hitherto  had  been  concealed,  reveal  themselves 
beyond  the  river,  with  numerous  castles  perched  upon  high 
rocks,  while  all  the  valleys  teemed  with  population.  Soon  a 
bright  sea,  farther  to  the  south,  became  visible  and  seemed 
to  receive  the  river,  though  its  mouth  was  not  in  sight. 

It  was  night  before  the  whole  caravan  and  armed  retinue  had 
crossed  the  dark  mountain  by  an  easy  pass  which,  at  a  distance, 
was  not  apparent,  but  that  led  them  into  the  valley  not  far  from 
the  river. 

Here  the  Assyrian  company  pitched  their  camp,  while  the 
shepherds  and  villagers,  alarmed  by  the  descent  into  their 
peaceful  vales  of  so  large  a  party  of  strangers,  like  a  small  army 
fled  to  their  cities  and  strongholds.  The  alarm  was  sounded 
from  hill  to  hill  by  the  peal  of  trumpets  which,  caught  up  by 
the  mountain  echoes,  were  repeated  again  and  again  amid  the 
narrow  dells. 

Prince  Arbaces  thought  it  best  to  remain  quiet  in  his  tent 
until  morning,  and  then  ride  to  the  gate  of  the  nearest  citadel 
and  explain  his  object  in  coming  into  their  country. 

All  that  star-lit  night,  while  the  ambassador's  camp  was  still, 
save  the  dull  tread  of  the  mailed  soldiers  that  paced  about  it 
to  keep  military  watch  upon  its  weary  travelers  in  their  deep 
sleep,  came  from  across  the  valley  the  metallic  ring  of  blows  on 
iron  and  brass;  the  sounds  of  a  surprised  people  preparing  their 
armor  and  weapons  of  war  in  order  to  meet  the  events  of  the 
coming  day. 

Having  now,  in  this  epistle,  laid  broadly  and  plainly  the 
foundation  of  our  book,  we  shall  here  close  it,  leaving  the  pen 
of  the  youthful  Assyrian  ambassador  to  record  the  events  and 
scenes  which  subsequently  transpired  in  the  progress  of  the 
important  mission  entrusted  to  him  by  his  king. 

January  26th,  1860. 


CONTENTS. 


LETTER  I. 

MM 

Commencement  of  journey — Reach  the  Valley  of  Jericho 
— Surprise  and  fear  of  the  inhabitants — Their  armed 
opposition — Conference  with  their  leader — The  He 
brews,  dissatisfied  with  the  government  of  Judges,  are 
now  under  the  rule  of  a  King — Saul  of  Benjamin — 
Cross  the  Jordan — Deputation  from  Jericho — Visit  to 
the  city  and  banquet — Parchments  of  Prince  Ramcses 
— Extract  from  his  letters — Continuation  of  the  Narra 
tive — Wanderings  of  the  Israelites  for  forty  years  in  the 
desert — Incidents  in  their  journey — The  Pillar  of  CJoud 
and  Fire — Death  of  Moses  the  Lawgiver — Description  of 
the  event  by  Caleb  the  Good 37 

LETTER  II. 

Honorary  escort  sent  by  King  Saul — Description  of  its 
commander  Prince  Jonathan — His  entertainment  by 
Arbaces — Home  sickness — Resumption  of  the  Narrative 
— Joshua  succeeds  Moses — Advance  to  the  Jordan — 
Security  of  the  Monarch  of  Jericho — Miraculous  pas 
sage  of  the  Jordan — Wonderful  account  of  it  from  the 
records  of  Caleb — Failure  of  the  Manna — Appearance 
to  Joshua  of  the  Captain  of  the  Lord's  hosts — Six  days' 
circuit  of  Jericho  by  the  Hebrew  army — Attack  on  the 
seventh  day — Fall  of  the  walls,  and  total  destruction  of 
the  city — Death  of  all  the  inhabitants,  save  Rahab  the 

innkeeper 59 

(27) 


28  CONTENTS. 

LETTER   III. 

PAGB 

The  Caravan  in  motion  westward — Joab  the  warrior — 
Conversation  with  Prince  Jonathan — The  Hebrew  Ar 
chitect  and  his  slaves — Interesting  account  of  the 
Gibeonites — Reign  of  the  Judges  from  Othniel  to 
Samuel — Reign  of  King  Saul,  at  first  happy  and  glo 
rious — Incident  of  a  murderer  flying  to  one  of  the 
Cities  of  Refuge — Account  of  that  remarkable  institu 
tion — An  instance  of  Prince  Jonathan's  brave  deeds — 
Beauty  of  the  Hebrew  women — Homage  and  regard 
paid  to  them — Meet  the  caravan  from  Sheba  to  Syria — 
News  of  an  invasion  by  the  Philistines — Strange  dis 
closure  by  Jonathan — Account  of  the  Philistines — 
Arrival  at  Ramah,  the  abode  of  Samuel  the  Seer 86 

LETTER  IV. 

Visit  to  the  venerable  Samuel — His  appearance  and  occu 
pation — His  conference  with  Jonathan — Introduction 
of  Prince  Arbaces — The  School  of  the  Prophets — Their 
Teachers — Their  prayers  and  praise — The  young  shep 
herd  of  Bethlehem — His  performance  on  the  harp — 
Afiection  of  David  and  Jonathan — The  Book  of  Ruth — 
Pillar  of  the  Temple  of  Bel — Samson  the  Judge — De 
borah,  Barak,  and  Jael — Jeptha  and  his  daughter 
Phigenia — Sacrificed  by  her  father  to  fulfil  a  rash  vow 
— Sea,  of  the  West — Magnificent  scenery — Adieu  to 
Samuel,  Nathan,  and  David — City  of  Solima — Plain  of 
Mamre — 115 

LETTER  V. 

City  of  Hebron — Advance  of  the  Philistines — Absence  of 
arms  in  the  Hebrew  camp,  in  consequence  of  having 
been  disarmed  by  the  Philistines — The  sons  of  Anak — 
Interview  with  the  Hebrew  Monarch — His  palace  and 
guards — The  throne  room — Personal  description  of  Saul 
— The  dark  spirit  is  upon  him — Impudent  challenge  of 
the  King  of  Gath — Conversations  with  Saul  and  Jona- 


CONTEXTS.  29 

PAOB 

than — The  Great  Mission  of  the  Hebrew  nation — Moab 
and  the  Moabites — Rejection  of  Saul  from  being  King, 
and  why — Death  of  the  High  Priest  Aaron  described...  14(3 

LETTER   VI. 

Destructive  sand-storm — Jonathan  recounts  how  and  where 
he  first  met  with  David — Combat  with  a  bear  and  a  lion 
— David's  hymn  of  victory — lie  presents  a  gazelle  to 
the  Princess  Michal — Mental  illness  of  Saul — Advice 
of  an  aged  foreigner  to  try  the  soothing  effects  of  music 
— Assent  of  the  king — lie  sends  for  David  and  his 
harj) — How  David  was  anointed  king  by  Samuel — How 
the  news  affected  Jonathan — Their  next  interview — 
David  plays  before  the  king  and  expels  the  dark  spirit 
of  evil — The  cure  not  permanent — The  sons  of  Jesse — 
Volunteers  in  the  war 175 

LETTER   VII. 

March  of  the  Hebrew  army  into  the  Vale  of  Mamre — 
Their  accoutrements  and  appearance — Saul  in  full  armor 
— Adora  and  Isrilid — The  royal  parentage  of  Adora — • 
Jonathan  in  armor — The  Philistine  encampment — Saul's 
entrenched  camp  in  the  Valley  of  Elah — Leopard  hunt 
— Exciting  consequences — Rescued  by  Saul  in  person 
— The  evil  spirit  revisits  the  king — Terrible  appearance 
of  Goliath  and  his  body-guard  of  Anakim — His  defiant 
challenge — Abner  the  General — The  last  taunt  of  the 
Lord  of  Gath — Depression  of  Jonathan — Saul's  offer 
of  reward  for  victory — Indications  of  the  approach  of 
the  Champion  of  God 205 

LETTER  VIII. 

Response  to  the  Champion — David  sent  by  his  father  to 
the  camp — Hears  the  challenge — Joab's  explanation  to 
David — His  brothers'  scorn — He  is  sent  for  by  Saul — • 
His  resolution  —  Preparation  for  the  Combat — The 


30  CONTENTS. 

PAGI 

Battle — Death  of  the  Griant,  and  defeat  of  the  Philis 
tines — Joy  of  Saul  and  Jonathan — Return  of  the  army 
of  Saul — Their  reception — Chant  of  the  Virgins — Dis 
pleasure  of  the  king — He  attempts  to  assassinate  David 
— Plain  of  Mamre  and  Cave  of  Machpelah — The  tombs 
therein — Jebusalern — Salem — Melchisedek 237 

LETTER  IX. 

The  "  Well  of  the  Oath"— The  March— Conversation  with 
Jonathan — Interview  with  Merab,  Michal,  and  Adora 
— A  mad  king — Journey  towards  Egypt — Interesting 
events  recorded  there — Pharaoh  and  the  Princess  Zaila 
— Arbaces  content — Letter  from  Prince  Jonathan — 
Exploits  of  David — Valiantly  wins  a  second  time  Michal 
for  his  wife — Slaughter  of  his  brother  and  robbery  of 
his  father's  flocks  by  the  Philistines — Recovery  of  the 
captives  and  spoils  by  David — Letter  of  Heleph  the 
armor-bearer — Saul's  continued  enmity  to  David — Re 
solves  to  slay  him — Jonathan's  intercession  effectual — 
David  again  defeats  the  Philistines — Saul  again  at 
tempts  to  take  his  life — His  escape,  through  Michal's 
intervention,  to  Ramah — Saul's  indignation  and  pursuit 
— He  prophesies  and  falls  in  a  trance,  during  which. 
David  escapes — Reflections — Affairs  in  Egypt — Zaila's 
love — Imprisonment  of  Arbaces — Belus  defeats  the  in 
surgent  Viceroy  of  Babylon,  and  beheads  him 271 

LETTER  X. 

Resumption  of  the  letters  of  Arbaces — Noble  covenant  of 
friendship  between  Jonathan  and  David — Continued 
enmity  and  persecution  of  Saul — Jonathan's  bold  inter 
position — His  warning  and  David's  consequent  exile — 
Holy  City  of  Nob — Description  of  the  Tabernacle — Its 
contents,  priests,  sacrifices,  and  services — The  Aaronic 
priesthood — The  Levites — Great  Day  of  Expiation — 
Holy  Place,  and  Holy  of  Holies — Ark  of  the  Covenant 


CONTENTS.  31 

PAQ» 

— The  Mercy-seat  and  Cherubim — The  High  Priest's 
entrance  within  the  Vail — Symbolical  offering  of  the 
two  goats — Its  profound  and  Divine  signification 309 


LETTER  XI. 

The  perpetual,  typical  Holocaust  of  the  lamb — David's 
interview  with  the  daughters  of  Aminiel — Meeting  with 
his  friends,  Ahithophel,  Uriah,  and  Hushai — Arrival 
at  Nob — David  seeks  sanctuary  from  Ahimelech — Re- 
ceives  from  him  the  Sacred  Loaves — Docg,  the  treach 
erous  Edomite — David  is  presented  with  the  sword  of 
Goliath — He  makes  his  escape  into  the  land  of  the 
Philistines — They  murmur  at  his  reception — His  severe 
illness — Re-enters  Judah,  and  abides  in  the  Cave  of 
Adullam — Secures  an  asylum  for  his  aged  father  and 
mother,  from  the  King  of  Moab — Adhesion  to  his  party 
of  Gad  the  Prophet — Ineffectual  pursuit  of  Saul — 
Slaughter,  at  Saul's  instance,  of  Ahimelech,  the  priests, 
and  other  inhabitants  of  Nob,  by  Doeg — Noble  conduct 
of  Abner — Abiathar  escapes  to  David — His  sorrow  at 
the  news — Defeats  the  Philistines  and  relieves  Keilah 
— Meets  with  Jonathan,  Joab,  and  Abishai  —  The 
Ziphites  offer  to  betray  him — Retreats  to  the  Caves  of 
En-geddi — Mercifully  spares  Saul,  who  returns  to  He 
bron — Death  of  Samuel — Saul's  grief  and  consternation 
at  the  event — Interesting  incidents  in  Samuel's  life — 
Eli  and  his  wicked  sons — The  Lord  speaks  to  Samuel, 
and  denounces  evil  on  the  House  of  Eli — The  Urim 
and  Thummim — Over  confident  attack  of  the  Hebrews 
on  the  Philistines,  and  defeat — Take  the  Ark  with 
them  in  a  second  attack,  which  is  captured,  the  sons  of 
Eli  slain,  army  routed — Death  of  Eli — The  Philistines, 
smitten  with  disease,  restore  the  Ark — Samuel  smites 
the  Philistines — His  long  and  wise  rule  as  Judge 341 


32  CONTENTS. 

LETTER  XII. 

PAOl 

Melancholy  of  Saul — He  annuls  MichaTs  marriage  to 
David,  and  gives  her  to  Phalti — David  again  spares  the 
life  of  Saul,  who  repents  and  retreats — David  passes 
over  to  Gath — Episode  of  Nabal — David  marries  his 
widow  Abigail — Abides  in  Ziklag  and  serves  King 
Achish — Achish  invades  Judea — Saul,  unable  to  get 
answers  from  the  Lord,  consults  the  Witch  of  Endor — 
Apparition  of  Samuel — Saul's  fearful  doom  foretold — 
His  depression,  but  subsequent  reaction — His  martial 
spirit  returns — The  Battle  of  Gilboa — Defeat  and  death 
of  Saul,  his  three  sons,  and  Doeg — Escape  of  Abner  and 
Ishbosheth — Achish  takes  possession  of  the  kingdom — 
Affixes  the  bodies  of  Saul  and  his  sons  to  the  gate  and 
walls  of  Bethshan — Their  removal  and  burial  by  the 
brave  inhabitants  of  Jabesh-gilead 386 


LETTER  XIII. 

Departure  of  Isrilid  and  his  daughter  to  Tadmor  in  the  Desert 
— Ziklag  taken  and  burnt  by  the  Amalekites — David, 
by  the  direction  of  God,  pursues  and  routs  them — He 
receives  the  news  of  Saul's  overthrow  and  death — Slays 
the  lying  messenger  of  evil  tidings — His  lamentation 
for  Saul  and  Jonathan — Goes  up  to  Hebron — His  re 
flections  in  the  deserted  palace  of  Saul — Crowned  King 
of  Judah — Abner's  reception  of  the  news — He  pro 
claims  Ishbosheth  King  of  Israel — David,  on  hearing 
it,  manifests  no  anger — Sends  Joab,  with  terms  of  honor, 
to  Abner — Combat  of  twelve — Extraordinary  result 
— Flight  of  Abner — He  slays  Asahel — Arbaces  the 
guest  of  King  David — Meets  with  Isrilid  and  Adora — 
Daril  proposes  that  Arbaces  shall  represent  Assyria 
at  his  court  as  ambassador — Accepted  under  the  in 
fluence  of  Adora,  who  consents  to  become  his  partner 
for  life — Seven  years  of  civil  war  between  Judah  and 
Israel 418 


CONTENTS.  33 

LETTER   XIV. 

PAQS 

Pharaoh  demands  tribute  of  David,  but,  menaced  by 
Assyria,  withdraws  his  insolent  demand — Happy  home 
of  Adora  and  Arbaces — He  becomes  a  proselyte  to  the 
Jewish  faith — Abner  continues  to  support  the  throne 
of  Ishbosheth — His  quarrel  with  the  luxurious  monarch 
— Opens  negotiations  with  David — David  demands  and 
receives  his  wife  Michal — His  interview  with  Abner — 
Joab's  displeasure  thereat — Contrast  between  the  two 
generals — Assassination  of  Abner  by  Joab — David's  in 
dignation  and  mortification — His  hymn  for  the  dead — 
Murder  of  King  Ishbosheth,  and  punishment  of  the 
murderers — David  crowned  King  of  Israel — Besieges 
and  captures  the  Fort  of  Zion — Abiathar  explains  and 
defends  this  act — David's  prosperous  reign — Establishes 
his  court,  with  great  pomp,  at  Jerusalem — His  officers — 
Defeats  finally  the  Philistines — Determines  to  remove 
the  Ark  to  Jerusalem 450 

LETTER   XV. 

Removal  of  the  Ark — Divine  judgment  upon  Uzzah — 
The  Ark  left  in  the  house  of  Obededom,  who  is  wonder 
fully  blessed — Second  removal  of  the  Ark  with  appro 
priate  ceremonies  and  purifications — Order  of  Worship 
appointed — Opening  Psalm — David  shows  kindness  to 
the  son  of  Jonathan — League  of  commerce  with  the 
King  of  Tyre — Determines  to  build  a  Temple — Ap 
proval  of  the  Prophet  Nathan,  but  the  Lord  disapproves 
— Religious  acquiescence  of  the  king — Disgrace  of 
Queen  Michal — Ziba  brings  to  court  Prince  Mephibo- 
fiheth— 'His  appearance  and  character — His  kind  recep 
tion  by  David — Increasing  commerce  of  the  kingdom...  485 

LETTER  XVI. 

Conquest  of  the  Philistines — Death  of  the  Anakim — De 
feat  of  the  King  of  Zobah — Also  of  the  King  of  Syria 
—Adora   and  Arbaces  established   on    the  throne  of 


34  CONTENTS. 

PAOB 

Tadmor  of  Zobah — Extent  of  David's  kingdom — Second 
overthrow  of  the  Syrians — David's  great  power  and 
prosperity  causes  him  to  lose  sight  of  his  dependence 
on  God — His  voluptuous  excesses — Arrival  at  his  court 
ofHadad  Isrilid,  Prince  of  Tadmor.. 510 

LETTER  XVII. 

^notions  of  Hadad  in  his  progress  through  Judea — His 
cordial  reception  by  David — The  king's  appearance  de 
scribed — Description  of  his  son  Absalom,  and  the  officers 
of  the  court — Splendor  of  the  palace — Hadad  prepares 
to  enter  the  military  school 521 

LETTER  XVIII. 

The  Citadel  of  David — Review  of  his  army — Hadad's  visit 
to  Uriah  and  Bathsheba — Festival  of  the  Jubilee — The 
Sabbatical  Year — Death  of  the  Princess  Michal — War 
with  the  Ammonites — David's  temptation  and  fall — 
Endeavor  to  conceal  one  wrong  by  the  commission  of 
another — Followed  by  a  still  greater  wrong,  the  murder 
of  the  unsuspecting  Uriah — David  marries  Bathsheba 
— Is  severely  rebuked  by  the  Prophet  Nathan — His 
solemn  act  of  public  contrition — His  penitential  Psalm 
— War  with  Ammon — David  crowned  King  in  Rabbah 
— Painful  record  of  sensuality  and  blood — Flight  and 
return  of  Absalom — He  conspires  against  his  father — 
Adhesion  to  his  party  of  Ahithophel — Treachery  of 
Mephibosheth — Absalom  alienates  the  hearts  of  Israel 
from  the  king — He  leaves  Jerusalem  for  Hebron,  and 
is  there  crowned  King  of  Israel — Flight  of  David — 
Hushai  joins  him,  but  is  sent  back  to  keep  watch  in 
Jerusalsm — Ziba  meets  David  with  presents,  and  is  re 
warded — Shimei  curses  him — Ahithophel's  wily  coun 
sel  to  Absalom,  counteracted  by  the  advice  of  Hushai 
— Ahithophel  hangs  himself — David  collects  an  army 
and  takes  his  stand  at  Mahanaim — The  battle — Total 
defeat  of  Absalom,  whom  Joab  slays — Tidings  sent  to 


CONTENTS. 

PAOH 

David — His  great  grief  for  the  death  of  his  son — Re 
proved  therefor  by  Joab — Returns  to  his  capital — His 
reception  of  Mephibosheth — Rebellion  of  Sheba — Amasa 
sent  against  him — Joab  slays  Amasa,  takes  command  of 
the  army,  and  suppresses  the  rebellion — Death  of  Sheba 
— Solomon,  son  of  Bathsheba,  designated  successor  to 
his  father  David,  and  destined,  by  God's  appointment, 
to  build  the  Temple 530 

CONCLUSION 588 

APPENDIX 507 


THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID; 

OR,  THE 

REBELLION  OF  PRINCE   ABSALOM. 


LETTER   I.* 

ARBACES  THE  AMBASSADOR 

To  BELUS,  KING  OF  ASSYRIA. 

CITY  OF  JERICHO,  NEAR  THE  JORDAH. 

SIRE: 

IN  obedience  to  your  Majesty's  commands,  I  have 
availed  myself  of  my  first  leisure  to  record  in  the  leaves 
of  iny  tablets  the  scenery  and  incidents  "which  have 
struck  me  as  worthy  of  observation,  during  my  journey 
from  the  banks  of  the  Tigris  to  those  of  this  remote 
river.  Descriptions  of  the  interesting  countries  through 
•which  I  have  passed,  with  allusions  to  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  people,  I  will  not  here  repeat,  as  I  have 
made  a  careful  history  of  them  for  your  Majesty's  perusal 
when  I  shall  return  from  my  embassy. 

After  a  journey  of  fifteen  days  I  reached  the  valley  of 
Jordan,   and,  crossing  the  river  the  following  morning, 

*  About  1050,  B.  c. 

37 


38  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

pitched  my  tent  outside  of  the  gates  of  this  city.  Here 
we  have  been  reposing  for  several  clays,  in  order  to  re 
cruit  the  weary  and  restore  the  energies  of  aP  after  our 
fatiguing  march,  much  of  which  lay  over  arid  plains. 

Our  first  sudden  appearance  in  this  lovely  valley  cre 
ated  both  surprise  and  fear ;  and  the  inhabitants  took  up 
arms  to  attack  us  and  drive  us  back  to  the  dark  moun 
tains  from  which  we  had  emerged.  Not  less  than  seven 
thousand  men  were  collected  for  this  purpose  in  one  night 
and  were  discovered  marshaled  upon  the  plain  before  us 
in  hostile  array  at  dawn. 

Not  wishing  to  appear  like  an  enemy  where  I  wished 
to  be  at  peace,  I  gave  orders  that  not  one  of  my  legion 
should  leave  the  tents ;  and  advancing  with  only  my 
armor-bearer,  Ninus,  and  my  venerable  chief-captain, 
Nacherib,  I  walked  towards  one  who  seemed  to  be  their 
leader. 

As  I  drew  near  I  could  see  that  but  few  of  the  host  car 
ried  proper  weapons  of  war,  or  wore  steel  armor,  there 
being  visible  but  here  and  there  a  helm  and  nodding  plume 
in  the  whole  fore-front  of  the  array.  The  greater  number 
were  armed  with  shepherd's  crooks,  hunting-knives,  bills, 
wolf-spears,  and  instruments  of  labor ;  yet  they  bore 
themselves  with  a  bold  face,  and  were  ranged  in  compa 
nies  and  battalions  with  the  regularity  and  precision  of 
a  well-drilled  army.  A  few  ensigns  fluttered  above  their 
heuds,  the  pennons  flashing  in  the  morning  sun. 

I  was  struck  with  the  noble  bearing  of  the  leader,  who 
seemed  a  mere  youth,  though  he  towered  above  the  ordi 
nary  height  of  men.  He  wore  a  helmet  and  cuirass,  and 
held  a  sword  in  his  hand. 

Seeing  me  advance  in  a  peaceful  manner  some  paces 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       39 

before  my  two  officers,  he  also  came  forward,  and  saluting 
me  with  a  courteous  wave  of  his  sword,  said,  in  a  Chal- 
daic  dialect,  not  unlike  our  own  speech,  so  that  I  plainly 
understood  his  words  : — 

"Who  art  thou,  my  lord!  and  whence  comest  thou 
with  an  armed  legion  and  so  great  a  retinue?  Is  thy 
mission  one  of  peace  or  of  war?" 

"  Peace,  my  lord  captain,"  I  answered.  "  I  serve  the 
King  of  Assyria,  and  am  going  on  an  embassy  into  the 
land  of  Egypt ;  hut  have  a  message  to  deliver  by  the 
way  to  the  great  Seer  and  Judge  of  thy  country,  Isamel, 
the  friend  of  the  gods  !  Thou  didst  last  night  behold 
an  armed  legion  enter  this  valley  with  me.  It  is  but  my 
body-guard  given  me  by  my  master,  the  King  of  Nineveh, 
to  protect  me  against  the  wandering  bands  of  the  wilder 
ness  ;  but,  as  thou  perceivest,  not  numerous  enough  to 
make  war.  If  thou  hast  authority  in  this  land,  I  crave 
permission  to  cross  the  Jordan,  and  go  on  my  way  to 
the  palace  of  your  governor,  Isamel." 

When  I  had  done  speaking,  the  youthful  warrior  came 
near  to  me,  and  again  saluting  me,  said : — 

"  We  welcome  thee,  0  Assyrian,  to  our  land  !  The 
aged  prophet,  Samuel,  whom  thou  callest  Isamel,  is  at  his 
abode  in  Ramah,  at  least  two  days'  march  for  thy  caravan, 
westward.  He  is  a  man  of  God,  virtuous  as  judge, 
undaunted  in  duty,  gentle  in  heart,  yet  with  a  lion's 
courage  against  evil.  But  thou  errest,  my  lord,  in  sup 
posing  he  is  now  the  Judge  of  Israel.  We  have  now  a 
king  like  the  nations  around  us  !" 

"  This  news  had  not  reached  our  ears  in  Assyria,"  I 
answered.  "Is  the  Prophet  Isamel  no  more?" 

"The  Seer  of  God's  people,"  here  answered  a  grave 


40  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

and  elderly  personage,  with  the  scars  of  battles  on  hia 
brow,  who  with  others  of  the  Hebrews  drew  near,  "  still 
lives,  my  lord  of  Ashur.  He  is  yet,  as  ever,  loved  and 
honored  for  his  great  age,  profound  wisdom,  and  celes 
tial  virtues.  But  becoming  too  aged  to  rule  the  land, 
disturbed  by  a  long  war  with  our  hereditary  foes,  the  mar 
tial  nation  of  the  Philistines,  although  often  delivering 
us  from  them  by  a  divine  courage,  he  yielded  the  autho 
rity  to  his  two  sons !  But  these  men  inherited  not  their 
father's  ability  and  wisdom,  nor  the  friendship  of  God, 
and  all  the  land  rose  up  under  their  weak  rule  and  de 
manded  of  the  Prophet  to  elect  and  anoint  over  us  a 
king  in  their  place.  The  Prophet  would  have  dissuaded 
us  from  having  a  king,  saying :  i  He  will  take  away 
your  possessions  and  make  your  sons  the  servants  of  his 
palace,  drivers  of  his  chariot,  his  horsemen  and  guards 
of  his  body,  and  your  daughters  slaves  to  do  the  labors 
of  his  household !  All  of  you  will  be  at  the  service  of 
your  king,  and  without  power  to  follow  your  own  way, 
but  only  be  made  the  obedient  servitors  of  his  power. 
Then  you  will  repent  and  wish  again  for  the  liberty  to 
elect  your  own  Judges,  as  you  have  done  for  four  hun 
dred  years,  even  since  the  days  of  Joshua  and  the  elders 
of  his  day.'  But,  my  lord  of  Ashur,  the  multitude  did 
not  hearken  to  the  words  of  the  Seer,  and  were  so  cla 
morous  for  a  king  that  he  anointed  a  young  man  by  the 
name  of  Saul  of  Benjamin,  son  of  Kish,  a  mighty  man 
of  valor  whom  God  pointed  out  to  him." 

"  And  is  Saul  now  your  king  ?"  I  asked  of  the  grave 
Hebrew  who  had  spoken. 

"  He  is,  0  most  noble  lord,  and  has  been  for  some 
time.  He  is  a  notable  warrior,  and  has  fought  for  us, 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  41 

and  won  great  victories  against  tlie  Philistines  at  the 
head  of  our  armies.  As  a  soldier  he  has  no  superior ; 
but  he  is  of  a  gloomy,  sad,  melancholy,  wayward  temper 
of  late,  and  the  whole  land  sighs  for  the  mild  and  firm 
dominion  of  the  wise  and  good  Prophet." 

"Thou  speakest  boldly  of  thy  king?"  I  said,  sur 
prised  at  this  freedom  of  speech,  where  each  word  might 
be  reported  to  his  monarch,  and  his  imprudence  cost  him 
his  head. 

"  So  do  all  men,  my  lord,  who  are  men;"  he  answered. 
"•  God  has  given  a  king  to  us  in  his  anger,  as  was  said,  and 
we  now  feel  it.  Even  the  great  Prophet  has  of  late  de 
parted  from  him  in  displeasure  to  see  him  no  more,  on 
account  of  his  impieties  and  cruelties  !  Nay,  God  seems 
to  have  deserted  him." 

"  Happy  the  day,"  said  the  young  chief,  "when  his 
brave  and  wise  son,  the  Prince  Jonathan,  shall  be  king 
in  his  father's  place." 

I  was  amazed,  your  majesty,  at  the  audacity  and  bold 
ness  of  speech  of  these  Hebrews  !  They  are  a  fearless 
race,  saturnine  in  complexion,  with  brilliant  black  eyes, 
raven  hair,  and  faces  full  of  intelligence  and  genius.  1 
like  them  much.  I  learned  from  them  why  they  were 
not  armed  any  better.  It  seems  that  their  conquerors, 
the  Philistines,  have  once  overrun  the  country  and  dis 
armed  the  whole  land,  city  by  city,  leaving  them  only 
implements  of  toil !  Under  their  king  they  hoped  in 
some  measure  to  retrieve  these  disgraces,  but  he  had 
achieved  no  permanent  good  to  his  kingdom  by  his  vic 
tories,  the  Philistines  still  holding  part  of  the  land,  and 
constantly  offering  battle. 

After  some  further  conversation,  the  chiefs,  satisfied 


42  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID,    OK, 

of  the  peaceful  character  of  my  retinue,  retired  from  the 
field,  and  reported  to  the  council  or  senate  in  the  princi 
pal  city  of  the  valley,  four  miles  distant. 

In  a  few  hours  a  messenger  came  to  me  with  an  invi 
tation  to  go  to  the  city,  and  permission  for  my  caravan 
to  encamp  near  the  gates,  by  a  certain  sacred  fountain. 

With  pleasure  I  accepted  this  courtesy  of  the  Hebrew 
people,  and  resuming  our  march  we  crossed  the  Jordan 
at  a  ford  kindly  indicated  by  the  young  chief,  who  having 
first  come  over,  guided  us  to  the  western  shore,  the  water 
having  been  no  deeper  than  our  saddle  girths.  Thus 
we  all  safely  passed  the  swift  stream,  and  in  an  hour 
afterwards  had  reached  the  pleasant  field,  shaded  by  a 
grove ;  where  we  were  to  encamp.  How  shall  I  describe 
to  your  majesty  the  beauty  of  the  scenery,  on  all  sides 
presenting  a  singular  mingling  of  the  wildest  rocks,  with 
the  most  lovely  vales !  Fields  of  corn  shining  as  if  a 
snow  of  golden  flakes  had  descended  upon  them,  charm 
ing  vales,  pleasant  pastures,  gardens,  vineyards,  villas, 
castles,  and  fortified  cliffs ;  with  the  ever  present  flowing 
river,  and  the  dark  mountains  beyond,  with  the  bright 
deep  blue  sky  above,  all  combined,  afford  to  the  eye  the 
most  delightful  entertainment. 

The  populousness,  too,  of  this  land  is  wonderful  to  be 
hold.  The  people  fill  the  fields,  the  roads,  the  avenues, 
travel  to  and  fro  among  the  hills,  crowd  the  gates  of  the 
towns,  throng  the  paths  to  the  spring  and  to  the  river ;  and 
are  in  gardens,  vineyards,  shops,  bazaars,  and  market 
places  innumerable.  In  Assyria,  all  our  population  is  cen 
tered  in  the  city,  save  a  few  shepherds  and  rude  tillers  of 
the  soil.  Here  the  country  has  the  life  of  a  city ;  and  the 
inhabitants  are  not  peasants  nor  rude  serfs,  but  intelli- 


THE   REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  43 

gent  and  active,  self-possessed  men,  free  from  all  the 
awkwardness  and  ignorance  that  is  supposed  to  charac 
terize  the  rustic.  The  very  ploughmen  have  the  bearing 
of  metropolitans  and  civilians  near  a  court,  and  walk  and 
speak  with  a  striking  air  of  independence.  All  can  read 
their  sacred  books,  (which  are  the  most  wonderful  in  the 
world,)  and  have  the  ability  to  copy  them.  Descended 
from  tho  same  Chaldaic  ancestry,  twelve  tribes  born  of 
twelve  brothers,  they  are  equal  in  rank,  bear  a  striking 
natural  likeness  to  each  other,  and  have  one  language. 
In  speech  as  wrell  as  in  blood  they  are  allied  to  Assyria, 
through  Abram  their  chief.  Though  I  have  been  here 
but  nine  days,  I  have  already  learned  much  of  their 
manners,  customs,  religion,  and  polity.  The  elders, 
venerable  and  dignified  men,  chosen  in  every  city  for 
their  wisdom  and  years  of  experience,  have  been  cour 
teous  to  me  beyond  expression. 

On  the  first  day  of  my  arrival,  I  had  hardly  got  my 
tent  pitched,  ere  a  deputation  waited  upon  me  from  Jeri 
cho,  the  chief  city  in  this  valley.  I  was  about  to  dine. 
They  were  pleased  with,  and  greatly  admired  the  elegance 
of  my  silken  tent,  the  beauty  of  the  plate  upon  my  table, 
and  the  exquisite  shape  of  the  furniture.  I  seemed  to 
them  as  a  great  king,  from  the  magnificence  of  my  ap 
pointments,  and  they  treated  me  with  but  little  less  dis 
tinction  than  they  would  have  shown  your  majesty  in 
person.  I  invited  them  to  dine  with  me,  but  they  ex 
cused  themselves,  saying  they  had  prepared  a  banquet; 
of  which  they  came  to  invite  me  to  partake,  inasmuch  as 
they  desired  to  show  their  regard  for  the  high  and  mighty 
Prince,  my  master,  by  their  attention  to  his  ambassador, 
who  had  honored  their  country  by  passing  through  it 


44  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Attended  only  by  Ninus  and  the  brave  Nacherib,  I  ac« 
coinpanied  them  to  the  gates  of  the  city.  Upon  my  way 
I  perceived  that  the  army  which  had  been  collected  so 
suddenly  from  both  sides  of  the  river  to  oppose  my  march 
had  as  suddenly  dissolved,  all  the  persons  who  had  as 
sembled  at  the  war  cry,  hastening  again  to  the  occupa 
tions  from  which  the  alarm  trumpet  had  called  them. 
There  seems  to  be  among  them  no  standing  army,  save 
a  body  guard  of  two  thousand  men  for  the  king's  per 
son,  and  a  thousand  for  his  son,  the  popular  young 
Prince  Jonathan ;  but  all  the  males  are  trained  soldiers, 
except  a  tribe  of  priests,  and  are  ready  for  war  and  the 
battle  field  at  the  summons  of  the  moment. 

Upon  passing  into  the  great  gate  of  the  city  several 
noble  looking  men,  most  of  them  with  flowing  white  or 
gray  beards,  rose  up  from  seats  placed  in  the  corridor 
each  side  of  the  entrance,  and  saluted  me  with  graceful 
dignity.  A  large  throng  of  people  stood  around  observ 
ing  me  with  curiosity.  One  of  these  elders  then  ad 
dressed  to  me  a  few  words  of  kind  welcome  to  the  city, 
and  expressed  the  desire  of  his  fellow-citizens  to  render 
my  brief  sojourn  pleasant  among  them. 

I  replied  in  a  suitable  manner,  and  was  then  invited 
to  a  seat  by  his  side  upon  a  sort  of  dais ;  for  I  perceived 
that  this  principal  gate  was  made  use  of  as  an  ordinary 
hall  of  council  for  the  senators  of  the  town,  being  the 
most  public  place  within  the  walls.  Here  they  were  ac 
customed  to  receive  the  visits  of  their  friends,  the  hom 
age  of  the  citizens,  and  honor  from  all,  young  and  old. 
No  one  passed  them  without  an  obeisance  of  respect ;  and 
I  observed,  while  I  sat  there,  that  sometimes  they  would 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       45 

gently  detain  a  passing  young  man,  and  give  him  some 
words  of  advice  or  of  mild  reproof. 

After  a  conference  of  some  length,  during  which  it 
gave  me  satisfaction  to  reply  to  many  inquiries  which 
they  made"  about  Assyria  and  your  majesty — and  it 
pleased  me  to  hear  their  remarks  and  expressions  of  sur 
prise  at  many  of  the  things  which  I  communicated  to 
them — after  an  hour  passed  thus  agreeably  in  their 
benign  society,  came  the  steward  of  the  chief  elder  and 
informed  him  that  the  banquet  was  prepared.  I  accom 
panied  him,  followed  by  the  other  elders  and  some  of  the 
chief  citizens,  with  the  two  military  chiefs,  the  younger 
of  whom  I  learned  was  called  Joab,  a  young  soldier  of 
great  promise  as  well  as  prowess.  But  I  pass  over  the 
incidents  of  this  feast,  as  it  presented  no  particulars  suffi 
ciently  interesting  to  detain  your  majesty.  It  was  chiefly 
characterized  by  simplicity  and  temperance. 

By  the  close  of  the  second  day  I  had  become  acquainted 
with  many  of  this  remarkable  people,  and  held  many 
conversations  with  their  Rabbis  or  men  of  learning,  who 
readily  gave  me  access  to  their  sacred  books,  and  cheer 
fully  recounted  to  me  such  events  in  the  history  of  their 
nation  as  my  curiosity  led  me  to  make  inquiries  about. 

From  these  books,  and  from  their  remarkably  clear 
traditions,  as  well  as  from  a  personal  record  which  I  have 
had  the  privilege  of  perusing  and  copying,  I  am  able  to 
furnish  your  majesty  with  an  interesting  account  of  the 
history  of  this  nation  from  the  time  when  Remeses  the 
Prince  of  Damascus  terminated  his  letters  to  King  Sesos- 
tris,  to  the  coronation  of  their  first  king,  the  warrior 
Saul,  now  upon  the  throne. 

As  your  majesty  possesses  a  copy  of  the  roll  of  parch- 


4H  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

ment  on  which  the  ancient  epistles  of  Prince_  Reuieses 
(written  now  four  hundred  and  ninety  years  since)  are 
inscribed,  on  reference  to  them  to  refresh  your  recollec 
tion,  you  will  learn  that  he  parted  from  the  leader  Musis, 
or  Moses,  as  his  countrymen  term  him,  in  the  desert  of 
Arabia  about  two  months  after  the  departure  from  Egypt. 
It  was  the  intention  of  the  Prince  of  Damascus  to  have 
accompanied  the  Hebrews  in  their  march  to  the  conquest 
o  f  the  land  their  God  had  promised  them ;  but  having 
offended  their  Deity  by  worshiping  the  golden  calf,  Apis, 
a  god  of  Egypt,  in  the  justice  of  His  divine  anger  He 
decreed  that  they  should  be  withheld  from  the  possession 
of  their  promised  country  until  forty  years  had  passed. 

Prince  Remeses  alludes  to  this  in  the  following  pas 
sage  in  his  parchments,  which,  as  nearly  as  I  recollect, 
reads  as  follows : 

"  Moses  informs  me,  my  dear  father,  that  in  punish 
ment  of  this  sin  of  the  Hebrews,  their  God  will  cause 
them  to  wander  blindly  many  years  in  the  wilderness 
ere  He  bring  them  to  the  land  promised  to  their  fathers, 
and  will  subject  them  to  be  harassed  by  enemies  on  all 
sides  ;  some  of  whom  have  already  attacked  them  in  their 
march,  but  were  discomfited  by  the  courage  of  a  Hebrew 
youth,  called  Joshua,  who  promises  to  become  a  mighty 
warrior  and  leader  of  Israel,  and  whom  Moses  loves  as 
an  own  son." 

"  In  view,  therefore,"  continues  the  letter  of  Remeses, 
"  of  this  long  abode  in  the  desert  of  the  Hebrews,  I  shall 
to-morrow  join  a  caravan  which  will  then  pass  northward 
on  its  way  into  Syria  from  Egypt.  It  will  be  with  pro 
found  regret  that  I  shall  bid  adieu  to  Moses,  to  Aaron, 
to  Miriam,  their  venerable  sister,  and  all  the  friends  I 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.       47 

have  found  among  tin's  wonderful  people.  Will  not  the 
world,  which  has  beheld  the  wonders  worked  for  their 
release  from  Egypt,  watch  from  afar  the  further  pro 
gress  of  this  army  of  God?"* 

Thus  writes  Remeses  at  the  close  of  his  series  of  Let 
ters  to  his  father,  King  Sesostris ;  and  from  that  time 
we,  in  Assyria,  have  learned  nothing  more  of  the  his 
tory  of  this  people,  save  that  at  this  moment  they  are 
inhabiting  this  beautiful  land,  twelve  powerful  nations 
united  under  one  king,  a  realm  of  warriors,  priests,  and 
wise  men,  simple  and  pastoral  in  their  habits,  patriarchal 
in  their  customs,  and  eminently  favored  of  the  gods. 

As  every  thing  relating  to  such  a  people  whose  past 
history  is  constantly  intermingled  with  that  of  the  divine 
gods  is  of  deep  interest,  and  as  your  majesty  enjoined 
me  to  make  myself  acquainted  with  whatever  concerned 
their  polity  and  customs,  their  religion  and  government,  I 
shall  briefly  avail  myself  of  the  narratives  of  their  sacred 
books,  of  their  private  records  and  written  traditions, 
and  of  the  conversation  of  their  learned  men,  to  which 
I  have  given  all  my  time  during  the  past  eight  days, 
(being  delayed  by  the  illness  of  some  of  my  people,)  to 
present  to  your  majesty  a  clear  outline  of  their  history, 
taking  it  up  where  it  was  dropped  by  the  Prince  of  Da 
mascus. 

The  interval  of  four  hundred  and  ninety  years  up  to 
the  present  day  could  not  be  otherwise  than  abundant  in 
events  of  the  deepest  interest.  While  I  shall  consult 
brevity,  I  shall  at  the  same  time  endeavor  to  give  a  dis 
tinct  outline  of  their  extraordinary  career. 

When  the  warrior  prophet,  Moses,  had  descended  from 
*  Vide  "  Pillar  of  Fire,"  pp.  594,  595. 


48  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

the  mountain  of  Heaven  with  the  tables  of  alabaster  on 
which  his  God  had  inscribed  with  his  finger  the  laws  He 
desired  the  Hebrews  to  observe,  say  the  sacred  books, 
and  beheld  the  people  worshiping  the  golden  god  of  the 
Egyptians,  he,  in  his  great  grief  and  anger,  cast  the 
tablets  upon  the  earth  and  shivered  them  into  fragments. 
Destroying  the  idol,  he  slew  three  thousand  of  its  wor 
shipers  !  and  for  their  sin,  the  intentions  of  their  mighty 
God  were  so  changed  towards  them  that  He  plagued  them 
in  their  passage  through  the  wilderness  in  such  a  man 
ner  that  they  lost  their  way  continually  for  the  space  of 
forty  years,  even  until  all  who  were  over  twenty  years 
of  age  when  they  left  Egypt  had  died,  and  were  buried 
in  the  sands  or  amid  the  rocks  of  the  desert,  save  two 
great  and  good  men,  Joshua  and  Caleb.  These,  alone, 
were  saved  for  their  faithfulness,  virtues,  and  courage. 

Moses  having  atoned  to  his  God  for  the  idolatry  of  the 
people,  by  the  blood  of  the  offenders,  went  again  up  into 
the  mountain  at  His  command,  and  received  a  second 
time  tables  of  the  law  from  Heaven.  These  laws  are 
still  piously  preserved  and  obeyed  by  this  people ;  are 
inscribed  in  letters  of  gold  upon  the  walls  of  their  civic 
temples,  or  synagogues,  and  proclaimed  once  in  seven 
days  aloud  in  the  entrances  of  the  cities.  They  are  ten 
in  number,  and  embrace  all  human  duty  to  the  gods  and 
to  man. 

They  command  the  worship  of  one  God;  forbid  the 
adoration  of  material  idols ;  the  profanation  of  the  sacred 
names ;  command  the  observance  of  every  seventh  day 
as  holy ;  obedience  to  parents  ;  forbid  murder,  impurity, 
theft,  false  testimony,  and  avarice !  Such  pandects, 
methinks,  are  worthy  to  be  received  by  all  people. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       49 

Their  God  also  directed  them  to  erect  a  moveable  tem 
ple  in  the  form  of  a  vast  royal  tent,  in  which  to  preserve 
the  sacred  vessels  and  to  perform  worship  to  Him.  Their 
holy  books  give  a  minute  description  of  this  tabernacle. 
It  was  gorgeous  beyond  expression.  In  Nineveh  I  know 
of  nothing,  luxurious  as  all  is  there,  which  can  surpass  it 
in  magnificence.  It  was  divided  into  courts  and  com 
partments  from  the  outer  to  the  most  inner  and  sacred, 
and  contained  altars  for  sacrifice  and  incense,  and  an  in 
terior  secret  throne  for  their  God,  whose  symbol  was 
like  a  burning  Eye,  dreadful  to  behold,  and  blinding  for 
mortal  to  gaze  upon. 

This  tabernacle  still  exists  in  this  land,  and  when  I  have 
seen  it  I  will  more  particularly  write  of  it  to  your  majesty. 

For  forty  years  the  nation  wandered  through  the  ter 
rible  deserts  which  lie  beneath  the  blazing  centre  of  the 
sun.  Their  sacred  books  record  forty-two  encampments, 
or  one  fixed  rest  a  year,  continuing  sometimes  only  weeks, 
sometimes  many  months.  In  their  march  they  constantly 
traversed  and  re-traversed  their  former  track,  now  going 
north,  now  bending  their  painful  course  west,  and  again 
eastwardly,  only,  after  many  weary  days,  to  change 
jgain  the  direction  of  their  labyrinthine  track  towards 
the  south  !  Thus,  like  a  blind  man  groping  in  a  field  to 
find  an  outlet,  this  great  nation  of  three  millions  of  people, 
of  which  six  hundred  thousand  were  fighting  men,  groped 
up  and  down  and  across  the  mighty  deserts  of  Afric, 
seeking  vainly,  mourning  sadly,  for  the  land  promised  to 
their  fathers  and  to  them,  and  which  they  had  come 
forth  from  Egypt  with  great  power  and  glory  of  deeds 
to  find  and  conquer.  How  terrible  the  judgments  of 
their  God  !  How  fearful  his  displeasure  ! 


50  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OK, 

Whithersoever  they  went,  they  bore  the  tabernacle  with 
its  holy  altars  and  sacred  Ark,  where  dwelt  the  divine 
light  of  the  glorified  presence  of  their  God.  Morning 
and  evening  sacrifices  of  animals  burned  upon  the  high 
altar,  and  the  priests  and  people  ceased  not  to  propitiate 
the  righteous  anger  of  their  offended  Deity. 

As  this  mighty  nation  was  descended  from  twelvei 
chiefs,  brothers  and  sons  of  one  man,  grandson  of  the 
Assyrian  Abram,  so  the  descendants  preserved,  even  when 
they  numbered  tens  of  thousands  of  souls  in  each  line, 
their  lineage  distinct.  They  were  not  so  much  one 
nation  as  twelve  nations  governed  by  one  law,  under  one 
leader,  worshiping  one  God !  Of  these  twelve  clans,  or 
tribes,  one  was  set  apart  as  sacred  to  the  priestly  office. 
The  men  thereof  were  not  to  bear  arms,  but  reserve 
themselves  for  the  holy  duties  of  their  temple  or  taber 
nacle. 

On  the  march,  these  twelve  tribes  formed  as  many 
armies,  each  under  its  own  standard  and  chiefs.  Seventy 
Elders  assisted  the  leader  Moses  in  council  and  judgment 
of  cases.  During  their  whole  sojourn  in  the  wilderness 
they  were  miraculously  fed  by  a  sort  of  supernatural  or 
celestial  food  of  the  gods,  which  was  secretly  conveyed 
to  the  earth  by  night,  and  found  by  the  people  in  the 
morning  !  Also  flocks  of  birds  followed  them  as  by  an 
irresistible  spell  upon  them !  and  along  their  path  in 
their  marches,  however  arid,  hot,  and  sandy  the  desert 
was  under  their  feet,  there  flowed  with  refreshing  cool 
ness  a  stream  of  pure  water  clear  as  crystal,  and  which 
never  deserted  them  for  the  forty  years  of  their  remark 
able  wandering ;  thus  in  punishing  this  people,  their 
powerful  God  remembered  mercy,  and  preserved  their 


THE   REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  51 

lives,  when  He  might  have  permitted  them  to  perish. 
This  wonderful  stream  of  living  water  had  originally 
been  created  by  their  leader  Moses,  by  opening  with  a 
stroke  of  his  rod  a  rock  in  the  desert  about  three  months 
after  they  had  come  out  of  Egypt,  when  they  complained 
for  want  of  water  and  charged  him  with  bringing  them 
into  the  wilderness  to  die  of  thirst.  From  that  foun 
tain,  which  so  marvelously  gushed  forth  out  of  the  dry 
rock,  the  stream  flowed  ceaselessly,  and  wound  about 
across  the  desert  after  them,  "as  if,"  says  the  personal 
record  I  have  before  alluded  to,  "  it  possessed  intelli 
gence  and  benevolence ;  as  if  it  were  not  so  much  a 
rivulet  of  water  as  a  bright  and  liquid  serpent  with  a 
divine  and  living  spirit  inhabiting  it,  and  directing  its 
course  by  love  and  pity  in  order  to  refresh  and  save  the 
weary  and  the  wandering." 

In  addition  to  this  wonderful  phenomenon,  the  sacred 
books  of  this  people  state  that  the  garments,  which  they 
wore  when  they  departed  out  of  Egypt,  remained  all  the 
while  unimpaired  by  time  and  exposure ;  while  their 
sandals  continued  for  forty  years  unbroken  and  as  fit 
for  service  as  the  day  they  first  bound  them  upon  their 
feet !  If  this  be  all  true,  which  I  can  not  at  all  doubt, 
what  a  God  of  wonders  and  power  must  be  this  Deity  of 
the  Hebrews !  How  extraordinary  his  acts !  Command 
ing  them  in  punishment  for  transgression  to  wander  forty 
years  in  a  desert,  yet  providing,  with  a  Father's  care  and 
love,  for  their  meat  and  drink  and  apparel,  where  other 
wise  they  could  never  have  obtained  them,  and  without 
which  they  would  speedily  have  perished  !  How  different 
his  character  from  that  which  priestly  traditions  give  to 
our  gods  Assarac,  Ninus,  and  Ophic,  who  are  represented 


52  THE    THROXE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

as  utterly  destroying  and  mercilessly  exterminating  their 
foes !  All  things  done  by  the  God  of  the  Hebrews, 
show  not  only  his  resistless  power,  but  reveal  surpassing 
Goodness,  wondrous  Patience,  and  perfect  Love. 

That  a  nation  so  powerful  in  numbers  and  warlike  with 
armed  men  should  create  alarm  in  the  countries  along 
the  borders  of  which  their  march  extended,  your  majesty 
will  readily  conjecture.  Some  of  these  nations  met  them 
with  all  their  military  forces,  and  gave  them  battle  in 
order  to  prevent  their  advance  through  their  country. 
Rumor  of  their  numbers  and  the  mighty  miracles  of  their 
Deity  had  gone  before  them ;  and  all  the  kings,  whose 
dominions  lay  near  their  line  of  progress,  hearing  that 
they  were  seeking  the  conquest  of  some  country  in  order 
to  supplant  the  inhabitants  and  dwell  therein  themselves, 
trembled  for  their  own  dominions ;  and  uniting  together 
attacked  them  with  overwhelming  armies.  In  some  of 
these  engagements  the  Hebrews  were  victorious ;  and 
routed  and  pursued  their  enemies  with  terrible  slaughter ; 
in  others  they  suffered  most  disastrous  defeats,  and  were 
driven  back  from  their  line  of  march  and  the  sight  of 
green  vales  and  fair  cities,  again  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness  ;  and  thus  between  their  hopeless  wanderings 
and  their  relentless  foes  they  seemed  ready  to  despair, 
and  sighed  for  a  return  to  the  bondage  they  had  borne 
in  Egypt  as  a  happy  relief  to  their  present  miseries ! 
Was  ever  a  nation,  for  whom  the  gods  had  done  such 
mighty  works,  so  afflicted  by  the  gods  ?  Their  pitiable 
condition  recalls  the  tradition  of  Sephaxad,  that  lesser 
god  of  ancient  Assyria,  who  would  scale  the  superior 
heaven  by  climbing  the  edge  of  the  rising  sun  !  in  pun 
ishment  of  whose  ambition  the  supreme  god  Assarac 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       53 

caused  the  sun  to  turn  on  its  axis  with  him,  so  that 
Sephaxad  continues  climbing  to  this  day  this  ever 
turning  shield  of  light,  but  never  in  the  least  progress 
ing. 

At  length,  the  gods  of  the  Hebrews,  or,  for  me  to  speak 
more  accurately,  rather  Crod<  (for  they  recognize  and 
adore  but  one  Deity,)  appeased  by  this  forty  years'  patient 
endurance  of  his  anger  against  their  sin,  which,  as  I 
have  written,  was  withdrawing  their  worship  from  Him 
self,  and  fixing  it  upon  a  molten  image  of  an  Egyptian 
god,  mercifully  put  a  period  to  their  aimless  marches, 
and  elevating  before  their  hosts  the  fiery  standard  of  his 
glorious  power,  bade  them  follow  and  it  should  bring 
thorn  to  the  land  of  their  hopes  and  prayers ! 

This  standard  was  a  wonderful  column  of  light,  which, 
by  night,  shone  with  the  brilliancy  of  a  thousand  moons, 
and  lighted  up  the  whole  camp  for  miles  around  the 
sacred  tabernacle  over  which  it  suspended  itself  in  the 
air.  It  had  preceded  their  march  during  all  their  move 
ments  in  the  forty  years  of  their  desert  wanderings.  It 
h-:d  indicated  when  and  where  they  should  encamp,  by 
advancing  and  becoming  stationary  over  the  appointed 
place ;  and  when  to  move  onward  again  by  going  for 
ward.  Ey  day,  it  had  the  appearance  of  a  bright  cloud 
let  down  from  the  heavens,  and  borne  gently  onward  by 
the  wind  a  few  hundred  feet  above  the  earth.  Yet  its 
motion  was  not  produced  by  the  wind,  says  the  private 
journal  of  "  Caleb  the  Good,"  who  has  left  on  record 
a  most  interesting  narrative  of  what  befel  his  people 
in  their  journeying,  and  which  record,  now  before  me, 
is  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  Levites  in  this 
city.  In  the  sand  storms  of  the  desert  the  column  of 


54  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

cloud  remained  as  immoveable  as  if  it  were  an  aerial  pil 
lar  of  alabastron  ;  and  when  the  atmosphere  was  breath- 
lods,  it  moved  forward  with  a  motion  within  itself,  "  as 
if  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  dwelt  in  it,"  adds  the  record 
from  which  I  transcribe. 

Hence  this  people  did  not  so  much  lose  their  way  in 
the  desert  as  were  led  out  of  it  by  their  God !  How  must 
the  hearts  of  this  mighty  nation  of  wanderers  have 
bounded  when  at  length,  near  the  close  of  a  long  and 
painful  day's  march,  Moses  stretching  forth  his  rod  to 
wards  the  land  they  were  to  take  possession  of,  suddenly 
cried  in  a  loud  voice,  "Behold  yonder  lofty  ridge  of  moun 
tains  northward,  ye  men  of  Israel !  Lo !  from  their 
highest  peak  is  visible,  to  the  eyes  of  him  who  standeth 
thereon,  the  land  of  Abraham,  of  Isaac,  and  of  Jacob, 
the  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  which  the  Lord 
hath  promised  to  you  for  an  inheritance,  and  of  which 
He  is  now  about  to  place  you  in  possession  !  Let  Israel 
go  forward  !  Behold  the  Pillar  of  Cloud  advances  !" 

How  these  stirring  words,  [taken  from  the  brief  record 
of  them  made  by  the  warrior  and  holy  man,  Caleb,]  must 
have  thrilled  through  every  bosom  !  'How  changed  now, 
alas !  was  the  material  of  this  mighty  host !  It  still 
numbered  more  than  three  million  of  souls ;  but  they 
were  not  the  men  who  crossed  the  Red  Sea  and  com 
menced,  forty  years  before,  their  solemn  march.  There 
were  still  six  hundred  thousand  fighting  men,  but  they 
were  not  the  men  who  had  fought  the  first  battles  of 
Israel  near  Mount  Sinai !  The  mighty  legions,  now 
moving  in  twelve  armies  to  the  conquest  of  the  land 
of  promise,  are  composed  of  men  under  forty  years 
of  age;  not  one  has  ever  seen  Egypt!  They  were  born, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       55 

not  slaves  of  Pharaoh,  but  freemen  of  God  in  the  free 
desert.  Their  erring  fathers  have  laid  their  bones  in  its 
Bands  for  their  sins ;  and  these  come  in  to  take  the  pro 
mised  inheritance  with  clean  hands  and  hearts. 

The  elders  and  rulers  of  the  people  are  none  of  them 
above  sixty  years  of  age ;  and  these  are  of  those  who 
were  yet  beardless  when  their  fathers  came  out  of  Egypt. 
Not  a  beard  that  left  the  shores  of  the  Red  Sea,  (save 
those  two  men  Joshua  and  Caleb,)  stood  by  the  waters 
of  the  Jordan.  Even  Moses,  their  august  and  venerable 
leader,  when  he  at  length  carne  near  the  mountain  called 
Pisgah,  (the  lofty  summit  of  which,  on  the  other  side  of 
Jordan,  I  have  seen  to-day  from  the  top  of  this  city's 
highest  tower,)  made  known  to  the  people  he  had  so  long 
led,  that  his  God  would  not  permit  him  to  tread  upon 
the  soil  of  the  pleasant  land  he  had  for  forty  years 
yearned  to  enter.  This  prohibition,  he  told  them,  was 
on  account  of  his  own  sins  of  infirmity  in  not  bearing 
patiently  with  the  murmurings  of  the  people  ;  and,  in  his 
despair,  almost  questioning,  himself,  the  wisdom  and  good 
ness  of  his  God. 

What  a  lesson  must  this  stern  justice  in  their  Deity's 
divine  character  have  taught  this  people  !  How  careful 
must  they  have  been  to  keep  his  laws  and  avoid  all  trans 
gression  against  him  !  He  who  could  entomb  in  the  wil 
derness  a  whole  nation,  and  mark  with  his  displeasure 
its  faithful  and  venerable  chief  for  a  few  acts  of  im 
patience,  how  surely  they  felt,  will  He  visit  them  with 
the  dispensation  of  his  retributions ! 

When  the  great  and  wise  Moses  had  taught  the  people 
at  great  length  a  code  of  moral  laws,  full  of  wisdom  and 
truth,  for  their  government  as  a  nation,  carefully  laid 


56  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

down  the  policy  they  ought  to  pursue  after  establishing 
themselves  in  the  promised  land,  and  had  given  them  a 
plan  for  the  division  of  the  country  by  tribes,  and 
strengthened  them  with  the  wisest  counsel,  he  eloquently 
pointed  out  to  them  the  rewards,  which  virtue,  and  the 
punishments  which  vice  would  bring  to  them.  He  then 
assembled  his  elders  and  captains,  and  solemnly  informed 
them  that  his  God  had  made  known  to  him  that  he  should 
be  graciously  permitted  to  behold  from  the  top  of  the 
mountain  over  against  Jericho,  the  glory  of  the  land 
to  be  possessed  by  the  people  of  Israel;  but  that  he 
should  only  see  it !  for  after  seeing  it,  God  had  said  "  in 
that  very  mount  thou  shalt  die  and  be  gathered  to  thy 
fathers." 

How  painfully  touching  must  such  an  announcement 
have  been  from  the  lips  of  Moses  to  his  people  !  To  most 
of  them  he  had  been  as  a  father  from  their  infancy.  He 
doubtless  knew  every  face,  and  was  loved  and  honored 
by  all.  And  now  how  sorrowful  must  it  be  to  them  and 
to  him,  to  be  separated  from  them  at  the  moment  of  the 
achievement  of  the  great  end  for  which  he  led  them  forth 
from  Egypt,  and  in  sight  of  the  long-wished-for  country, 
which,  alas !  by  the  fiat  of  his  God,  he  was  forbidden  to 
enter  at  the  head  of  his  conquering  hosts  ! 

But  we  hear  no  murmur  from  this  mighty  man  !  At 
the  age  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  he  submits  like 
a  gentle  child  to  the  will  of  his  mighty  God.  Taking 
leave  of  his  friends  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  leav 
ing  a  nation  in  tears,  he  ascends,  attended  by  a  few 
favored  elders,  whom  he  instructs  in  wisdom  as  he  goes 
up  the  side  of  the  mountain.  Though  his  locks  flow  white 
upon  his  shoulders,  and  mingle  with  his  snowy  beard  upon 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.       57 

his  breast,  his  eye  is  not  dimmed  nor  his  natural  force 
abated.  Near  the  summit  he  embraces  tenderly  his 
friends,  blesses  his  noble  general  (Joshua)  to  whom  he 
formally  surrenders  his  place,  authority,  and  power; 
while  the  aged  Caleb  kneels  at  his  feet  and  bathes  them 
in  tears. 

The  voice  of  God  from  the  summit  calls  him  from 
their  embraces !  He  hears  the  familiar  sound,  and 
spreading  his  hands  over  them,  and  over  the  kneeling 
nation  in  the  plain  below,  he  blesses  them  in  silence,  and 
then  with  moistened  eyes  turns  away,  and  soon  stands 
upon  the  mountain  top. 

Says  the  record  of  Caleb,  "  His  majestic  form  seemed 
to  expand  and  tower  in  stately  beauty  as  we  beheld  him 
gaze  off  across  the  valley  of  Jordan,  and  let  his  piercing 
glance  wander  over  the  broad  fertile  country  which  lay, 
like  Eden,  between  the  two  glittering  seas !  When  he 
had  surveyed  it  on  all  sides  from  his  elevation,  a  bright 
cloud  descended  above  him,  which  transfigured,  but  did 
not  conceal  him ;  and  we  heard  a  voice  from  above  the 
cloud,  as  the  voice  of  God,  which  said: 

"  '  This  is  the  land  which  I  sware  unto  Abraham,  unto 
Isaac,  and  unto  Jacob,  saying,  I  will  give  it  unto  thy 
aced!  Behold,  this  land  of  Canaan  I  give  unto  the 
children  of  Israel  for  a  possession  forever !  Lo,  I  have 
caused  thee  to  see  it  with  thine  eyes ;  but  tliou  slialt  not 
go  over  thither  !' 

"  When  the  voice  had  ceased  speaking,"  continues  the 
testimony  of  Caleb,  "the  face  of  Moses  became  like  the 
sun!  All  his  form  and  flowing  robes  were  resplendent 
with  light  ineffable ;  and  the  cloud  slowly  enfolding  him,  he 
was  borne  as  if  supported  by  invisible  beings  from  the  place 


58  THE    THRONE   OF    DAVID;    OR, 

where  lie  stood  on  the  top  of  the  mountain,  and  disap 
peared  forever  from  our  eyes. 

"  In  awe  we  waited  until  we  took  courage  to  approach 
the  holy  place  he  had  left,  when  we  found  all  solitude. 
Nothing  was  visible  around  us  but  the  rocky  peak  de 
scending  sheer  into  the  dark  mountain  ravines  !  Silence 
like  the  eternal  stillness  of  the  upper  sky  reigned  su 
preme  !  > 

"  God  had  taken  him  from  us,  and  buried  him  in 
mystery  and  holy  secrecy  from  the  eyes  of  all  men  !  His 
sepulchre  no  man  knoweth ;  but  there  are  many  that  be 
lieve  he  was  translated  like  Enoch  to  heaven,  in  the 
bright  cloud  which  enshrouded  his  majestic  and  venera 
ble  form,  and  which  many  Seers  who  looked  assert  took 
the  form  of  a  mighty  angel,  even  of  Michael  the  Prince 
of  Heaven!" 

Thus  reads  the  parchment  of  Caleb  the  good. 

Farewell,  my  beloved  cousin  and  king!  I  will  soon 
take  up  my  pen  to  address  you  another  letter. 

Your  faithful 

ARBACES 


THE   REBELLION    OF   PRINCE   ABSALOM.  59 


LETTER  II. 

ARBACES  TO  THE  KING. 

AMBASSADOR'S  CAMP,  BEFORE  JERICHO. 

Mr   DEAR    COUSIN   AND   KlNG  I 

WE  still  linger  in  this  romantic  valley,  not  from  choice 
but  from  compulsion,  as  our  invalids  are  but  now  suffi 
ciently  restored  to  health  to  move  forward.  This  is 
the  twelfth  day  since  we  encamped  here ;  and  yesterday 
I  would  have  resumed  our  journey,  but  a  messenger  whom 
I  had  sent,  by  the  advice  of  the  elders  of  the  senate,  to 
the  king  to  ask  permission  to  pass  through  his  territories, 
has  but  a  few  hours  since  returned  with  the  royal  consent. 
As  his  majesty  was  neither  at  Gibeah  nor  Gilgal,  his 
usual  abodes,  but  at  the  city  of  Hebron,  farther  south, 
where  he  is  building  a  palace,  my  messenger  was  longer 
on  his  mission. 

The  king,  with  that  grace  and  courtesy  which  singu 
larly  characterizes  this  refined  people,  not  only  accorded 
me  the  liberty  to  traverse  his  dominions,  but  has  sent 
hither  his  son,  the  eldest  Prince  of  his  House,  with  an 
honorary  escort  of  two  hundred  of  his  body-guard,  to  ac 
company  me  to  Hebron.  I  was  walking  in  front  of  my 
tent,  enjoying  the  soft  air  of  this  delicious  clime,  and 
watching  the  groups  of  dark-eyed,  laughing  maidens 
gathered,  with  their  pitchers  upon  their  heads,  about  the 


60  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID:    OR, 

fountain  which  gushes  forth  near  by  in  a  grove  of  the 
tall  palms  that  stand  so  grandly  all  about  this  city,  when 
I  heard  the  clear  ring  of  a  trumpet  sounding  from  a  nar 
row  dale  between  the  vine-clad  hills  that  rise  west  of 
Jericho. 

I  looked  and  beheld  emerge  from  the  pass  three  or 
four  mounted  men  in  armor,  one  of  whom  was  richly 
attired  and  seemed  to  be  their  chief,  followed  by  a  body 
of  foot  soldiers,  whose  shining  steel  casques  reflected  the 
sunbeams.  They  were  marching  into  the  valley,  cheer 
fully  sounding  their  trumpets  before  them.  My  chief 
captain,  Nacherib,  at  once  fastened  on  his  helmet,  and 
seizing  his  sword,  marshaled  my  body-guard  into  battle 
array,  suspecting  a  surprise.  The  warders  from  the  gate 
of  the  city  at  this  moment  responded  to  the  bugles  of 
the  advancing  party,  which  again  replied  with  a  stirring 
flourish  of  a  score  of  martial  instruments,  among  which 
were  heard  drums,  cymbals,  and  cornets. 

"  That  is  not  a  warlike  challenge,  my  noble  captain,' 
I  said,  hearing  this  stirring  music,  "  but  rather  a  salute 
of  honor." 

"  True,  my  lord  prince,"  answered  the  prudent  old 
warrior,  "  but  one  must  always  believe  armed  bodies  of 
strangers  hostile  until  we  prove  them  to  be  friends." 

At  this  moment,  I  perceived  my  messenger,  ( who  was 
Ninus  my  armor  bearer,)  whom  I  had  sent  to  the  Hebrew 
monarch,  detach  himself  from  the  van  of  the  advancing 
troop  and  gallop  across  the  valley  towards  me.  In  a  few 
moments  he  alighted  at  my  feet,  and  saluting  me  said : 

"  Fear  no  treachery,  my  lord  prince.  This  company, 
which  you  see  advancing,  is  a  guard  of  honor  commanded 
by  the  youthful  Prince  Jonathan,  and  sent  by  King 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       61 

Saul  to  conduct  your  highness  to  his  presence.  The 
monarch,  whom  I  had  to  seek  in  three  cities  and  found 
iii  Hebron,  received  your  message  gladly,  and  expressed 
his  desire  to  see  in  person  the  ambassador  of  the  great 
king  of  the  east;  and  as  a  proof  of  his  sincerity  he  en 
tertained  me  with  the  most  distinguished  courtesy,  and 
has  sent  his  son,  the  prince  royal,  to  attend  you  to  his 
capital!" 

Upon  hearing  these  welcome  words,  I  immediately 
mounted  my  horse,  and  at  the  head  of  one  hundred  of 
the  most  splendidly-attired  of  my  body-guard,  rode 
slowly  to  meet  the  Hebrew  prince.  When  I  had  come 
within  three  bow-shots  of  his  party  I  halted,  and  leaping  to 
the  ground  advanced  on  foot  towards  him.  The  Israelitish 
prince  followed  my  example,  and  we  met  mid-way,  saluting 
each  other  with  military  courtesy.  I  was  at  once  most 
agreeably  impressed  with  his  appearance.  He  was  a 
mere  youth,  with  the  down  scarcely  shading  his  lip,  and 
in  height  not  above  the  ordinary  stature  of  young  men. 
But  there  was  a  noble  frankness  in  his  clear,  open  eyes 
which  revealed  within  a  soul  ingenuous  and  pure  !  His 
brown  hair  fell  in  shining  waves  upon  his  shoulders,  and 
was  parted  above  his  fair  forehead  which  seemed  to  be 
the  very  throne  of  truth.  Without  being  regularly 
handsome,  his  face  was  singularly  attractive,  and  espe 
cially  when  lighted  up  by  the  fine,  warm  smile  of  sincere 
good-will  with  which  he  greeted  me,  as,  coming  quickly 
nearer,  he  extended  his  open  hand  to  clasp  mine !  It 
seemed  from  that  moment  we  were  friends  and  to  be 
friends  forever!  Your  majesty  must  not  charge  me  with 
enthusiasm.  There  are  very  few  men  to  whom  my  heart 
goes  out,  or  to  whose  hand-clasp  my  own  fully  responds, 


62  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OK, 

When  he  spoke,  his  voicej  rich  and  musical  in  its  plea 
sant  cadences,  completed  his  conquest  over  me ! 

" My  noble  lord  of  Nineveh,"  he  said,  "the  king  my 
father  welcomes  you,  by  me,  to  the  land  of  the  Hebrew 
people  !  He  is  not  ignorant  of  the  glory  and  power  of 
Assyria.  He  desires  you  will  accept  my  escort  and 
visit  him  at  Hebron.  His  court  is  usually  at  Gibeah, 
but  he  now  sojourns  at  the  former  place  which  he  intends 
to  make  the  capital  of  his  kingdom!" 

"  I  accept  with  pleasure,  noble  prince,"  I  replied,  "  the 
invitation  of  your  royal  father.  I  can,  however,  pass 
but  a  brief  time  at  his  court,  as  my  mission  is  to  that  of 
Egypt!" 

"  So  I  have  learned  from  your  messenger,"  answered 
the  prince. 

I  then  invited  him  to  my  tent  towards  which  we 
walked  side  by  side ;  while  I  entrusted  the  reception  of 
his  body-guard  to  the  military  courtesy  of  my  chief- 
captain.  The  dark-clad  Hebrew  troop,  escorted  to  the 
camp  of  my  one  hundred  brilliant  guards,  took  up  a 
position  near  them,  and  soon  the  Assyrians  and  Israelites 
were  seen  intermingling,  curiously  examining-one  another's 
arms  and  armor,  and  conversing  together  like  old  com 
rades  and  men  of  the  same  blood.  And  are  not  these 
Hebrews  of  the  race  of  Chaldean  Assyrians  ?  Their 
language  is  still  so  similar  to  ours  that  we  converse  to 
gether  with  facility.  The  magnificence  of  my  retinue, 
the  superb  helmets,  corslets,  and  coats  of  mail  of  my 
chosen  company  of  one  hundred  Ninevite  young  nobles 
whom  your  majesty  gave  to  guard  my  person  and  tent, 
the  beauty  of  their  swords,  golden  helmets,  and  falchions, 
the  richness  of  the  saddles  and  trappings  of  the  horses. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       63 

and  the  elegance  of  the  animals  themselves,  for  the 
Hebrews  have  but  few  horsemen,  were  all  subjects  of  ad 
miration  and  remark. 

In  the  meanwhile  I  sat  in  my  tent  with  the  amiable 
Hebrew  prince  placed  opposite  to  me.  I  entertained  him 
with  the  richly  preserved  fruits  of  India  and  the  soft, 
golden  wines  of  Media. 

"  You  live  in  great  splendor  in  the  Orient,  my  lord 
prince,"  he  said,  glancing  around  upon  the  silken  hangings 
of  my  traveling  pavilion  and  at  the  costly  appointments 
of  every  thing  within. 

U0ur  king  is  the  most  opulent  of  all  princes  on  the 
earth,"  I  truly  answered  him.  "  Nineveh  is  a  city  of  palaces 
and  of  luxury.  The  empire  of  Assyria  is  unbounded  in 
extent  eastward  and  to  the  south.  It  embraces  numerous 
lesser  kingdoms,  provinces,  and  governments;  and  the 
once  mighty  Babylon  is  subject  to  its  sceptre." 

As  he  manifested  deep  interest  in  our  affairs,  and  asked 
many  questions  about  your  majesty,  I  gave  him  a  history 
of  the  power  and  splendor  of  your  dominions ;  spoke  of 
the  vastness  of  your  army,  of  the  exhaustless  wealth  of 
your  treasure-houses,  of  the  magnificence  of  your  court ; 
but  more  than  all,  I  described  to  him,  0  king,  your 
majesty  in  person,  the  wisdom  and  prudence  of  your 
reign,  and  how  you  were  loved  and  honored  by  your  sub 
jects. 

When  I  had  done  speaking,  the  noble  Hebrew  modestly 
remarked : — 

"  The  glory  of  a  kingdom,  my  lord,  lies  not  in  the 
gold  and  silver  in  its  coffers,  in  the  grandeur  of  its  pa 
laces,  nor  in  the  splendor  of  its  court,  but  in  the  virtue, 
wisdom,  and  justice  of  its  monarch  !"  From  this  a  ami- 


64  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

rable  sentiment  which  he  finely  expressed,  his  features 
being  animated  with  all  its  spirit,  your  majesty  will  per 
ceive  something  of  the  excellency  of  his  disposition  and 
the  dignity  of  his  thoughts. 

When  I  had  answered  all  his  inquiries  about  Assyria, 
which  he  warmly  expressed  a  desire  one  day  to  visit, 
I  put  many  questions  to  him,  in  my  turn,  about  his  own 
country  and  people.  When,  from  my  observations,  he 
perceived  that  I  had  some  knowledge  of  the  history  of 
his  nation  up  to  the  period  of  the  eve  of  their  conquest 
and  the  death  of  Moses,  he  appeared  to  be  much  pleased, 
and  said  that  it  would  afford  him  great  pleasure  to  com 
municate  to  me  any  further  information  I  desired  to  ob 
tain,  while  we  should  be  journeying  leisurely  towards  his 
father's  court. 

We  were  now  interrupted  in  our  pleasant  intercourse 
by  a  delegation  from  the  city  composed  of  its  chief  men, 
who,  having  come  as  far  as  the  outer  guard  of  the  camp, 
sent  in  to  ask  permission  to  pay  their  homage  to  their 
prince. 

With  the  heightened  color  of  modest  diffidence  the 
young  Hebrew  arose,  and  was  excusing  himself  to  me, 
saying,  he  would  go  forth  to  them,  when  I  expressed  a 
desire  that  he  would  receive  the  deputation  where  he 
was ;  but  he  said  that  he  would  prefer  to  meet  them 
without  and  accompany  them  to  the  city.  I  then  arose 
and  went  with  him  to  where  they  awaited  his  coming, 
and  was  gratified  to  behold  the  affectionate  reverence 
with  which  he  was  received  by  the  white-bearded  elders, 
and  the  unaffected  simplicity  and  kindness  of  his  tone 
and  manner  in  addressing  them.  Happy  will  this  peo 
ple  be,  0  king,  when  this  ingenuous  prince  shall  come 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PKINCE    ABSALOM.  65 

to  rule  over  them  !  Wisdom  and  mercy,  justice  and  truth, 
will  be  the  ornaments  of  his  throne. 

To-morrow  we  resume  our  journey,  as  all  my  retinue 
are  refreshed  and  vigorous  for  the  march,  with  their  long 
and  pleasant  repose  in  this  lovely  vale  of  the  Jordan. 
In  the  leisure  which  this  delay  >Jias  given  me,  I  have  been 
studying  the  sacred  books  in  the  Hall  of  Scrolls  at  Jeri 
cho,  and  especially  the  records  of  "  Caleb  the  wise," 
which  I  have  four  scribes  engaged  in  copying  for  me,  as 
I  may  not  take  it  away,  and  greatly  desire  to  have  the 
narrative  in  my  possession. 

I  now  write  in  my  tent  by  the  light  of  the  swinging 
lamp  of  chased  gold,  my  mother's  gift,  which  used  to  be 
suspended  in  my  chamber  in  my  palace  at  Nineveh.  The 
sight  of  it  recalls  vividly  the  familiar  room  ;  and  I  hardly 
realize  that  I  am  many  hundred  miles  distant  from  the 
apartment  it  used  once  so  cheerfully  to  light  up.  But  1 
Tear  this  is  a  feeling  of  home-sickness,  my  royal  cousin, 
which,  I  am  told  by  travelers  in  far  lands,  seizes  upon 
the  heart  of  the  exile  instead  of  the  body !  I  will  not 
yield  to  it.  I  will  write  still.  The  prince  is  to-day  a 
guest  in  the  city  !  My  soldiers  are  amusing  themselves, 
some  with  songs  and  musical  instruments,  others  dancing 
in  the  moonlight,  others  listening  to  the  romantic  legends 
of  a  traveling  story-teller  from  Arabia,  who  has  wan 
dered  into  the  camp.  From  a  distance,  borne  on  the 
soft  breeze  to  my  ear,  I  hear  the  trumpets  of  the  ward 
ers  upon  the  walls  of  the  city  as  they  sound  the  signal 
for  changing  the  guard,  and  proclaim  the  hour  of  the 
night. 

I  will  here  resume  my  narrative,  your  majesty,  of  the 
wonderful  events  which  followed  the  death  of  the  great 
5 


66  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Hebrew  leader,  Moses,  upon  the  mountain  of  Pisgah,  in 
sight  of  that  land,  to  the  very  portals  of  which,  after  forty 
years'  painful  wanderings,  he  had  at  last  led  his  people ! 

To  his  chief  captain,  a  man  renowned  for  his  valor 
and  wisdom,  he  resigned  his  authority.  This  warrior's 
name,  according  to  Caleb,  was  Oshea,  which  signifies  a 
Saviour.  In  the  sacred  writings  he  is  called  Joshua. 
Upon  him  Moses  had  solemnly  laid  his  hands,  and  com 
municated  to  him  a  portion  of  his  spirit  and  divine  glory 
that  the  people  might  unquestionably  obey  him.  Already 
his  prowess  in  their  battles  with  their  many  foes  had 
commanded  their  respect,  while  his  piety  equaled  his 
bravery. 

After  the  departure  of  Moses  to  the  dwelling  places 
of  the  gods,  this  chief  took  command  of  the  countless 
hosts  of  the  Hebrews,  and  advanced  at  their  head  to 
make  conquest  of  the  land  that  God  had  given  them ; 
not,  however,  bestowed  as  a  free  gift,  but  to  be  won  by 
their  arms,  Jehovah  himself  fighting  for  them. 

Having  marched  until  they  came  in  sight  of  the  Jor 
dan,  approaching  it  from  the  deserts  of  the  south,  Joshua, 
their  general,  encamped,  and  despatched  spies  across  the 
river  to  see  and  report  to  him  the  appearance  of  this 
country,  and  the  character  of  the  inhabitants.  Their  glow 
ing  accounts  of  its  abundance  and  beauty  filled  the  Hebrews 
with  joy,  and  they  became  impatient  to  be  led  across  the 
river  to  enter  upon  its  possession.  But  it  was  then  the  time 
of  the  harvest  in  the  land,  in  the  middle  of  April,  when  this 
river  overflows  its  banks,  and  is  very  deep  and  broad,  spread 
ing  sometimes  three  thousand  cubits  wide  over  the  valley, 
at  which  time  its  current  is  so  strong  and  swift  that  nothing 
can  cross  it.  Small  boats  that  attempt  it  are  carried 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  67 

down  the  stream  with  resistless  velocity,  reaching  with 
difficulty  the  shore  far  below.  Caravans  arriving  at  this 
period  are  compelled  sometimes  to  encamp  many  days  on 
the  shore,  until  it  subsides  and  sinks  within  its  proper 
bounds  and  becomes  fordable.  Such  was  its  condition 
two  weeks  ago  when  I  crossed  its  shallow  ford  with  my 
retinue,  guided  by  the  young  Hebrew  soldier  Joab. 

The  ancient  Canaanites  who  dwelt  this  side  of  the 
river  were  not  ignorant  of  the  presence,  a  few  miles  on' 
on  the  other  shore,  of  the  vast  multitudes  of  the  Israel 
ites,  for  the  Hebrew  spies  had  been  discovered  in  Jericho, 
and  pursued  to  the  river.  The  King  of  Jericho  suppos 
ing  the  Hebrew  hosts  would  pass  on  towards  Chaldea, 
the  land  of  their  great  ancestor  Abrani,  which  rumor  had 
noised  was  their  real  destination,  and  not  suspecting  they 
would  enter  his  territories  any  more  than  those  of  the 
kings  along  whose  borders  they  had  hitherto  marched, 
contented  himself  merely  with  watching  their  vast  camp 
from  the  top  of  his  palace.  He  felt  the  more  secure,  in 
asmuch  as  the  swollen  river,  then  nearly  a  mile  in  width, 
with  a  current  swift  as  the  flight  of  arrows,  presented  a 
secure  barrier  between  his  dominions  and  the  Hebrews, 
to  the  passage  of  any  body  of  men.  After  the  visit  of 
the  spies,  he  commanded  all  boats  to  be  brought  to  the 
western  side  and  secured,  and  dismissed  any  apprehen 
sions  of  danger  which  he  might  have  entertained. 

But  what  are  the  devices  of  kings  or  of  men  against 
celestial  powers  ?  The  fate  of  his  kingdom  was  sealed  ! 
Forty  years  had  those  mighty  hosts  there  encamped  in 
twelve  armies,  with  their  thousand  banners  glancing  in  the 
sun,  been  seeking  his  kingdom  and  those  adjacent  to  him 
of  his  fellow  monarchs,  and  like  hungry  eagles  who  have 


68  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;  OR, 

discovered  their  long-scented  prey,  they  were  not  now  to 
be  turned  aside,  they  nor  their  GOD  !  from  their  determi 
nate  purpose !  This  land  for  forty  years  had  been  the 
theme  of  their  talk  by  day  seated  in  their  tents;  and  in 
the  weary  tramp  through  burning  sands !  In  their  troubled 
sleep  beneath  the  stars  of  the  desert  they  had  dreamed 
of  it,  and  fancied  that  they  cooled  their  arid  lips  with  its 
rich  clusters  of  grapes,  and  bathed  their  brows  in  its  foun 
tains  of  cool  waters !  They  were  not  now  to  turn  aside ! 
Not  all  the  waters  of  the  Great  Middle  Sea  would  have 
stayed  their  advance !  Their  God,  who  had  divided  the 
watery  plain  of  the  Red  Sea  before  their  fathers,  could 
open  a  high-way  across  the  Jordan  for  his  people ! 

Secure  at  least  in  the  protection  of  his  now  great  river, 
the  king,  and  his  courtiers,  and  his  army,  enjoyed  them 
selves  in  banqueting  and  in  their  pleasures.  In  his  cups 
that  day  the  monarch  of  Jericho  defied  the  hosts  of  Israel, 
and  waving  his  goblet  of  wine  towards  their  camp  from 
his  palace  window,  mocked  them  and  their  God ! 

Then  it  was  that  Joshua  was  commanded  by  the  voice 
of  his  God  to  rise  up  and  marshal  his  armies,  and  put  in 
array  all  the  people  in  the  usual  battle  ranks  in  which 
they  marched  when  led  by  Moses,  saying  unto  him, 

"  As  I  was  with  my  servant  Moses,  so  will  I  be  with 
thee ;  and  this  day  I  will  magnify  thee  in  the  sight  of 
this  people,  that  they  may  know  that  I  have  made  thee 
leader  of  them  in  his  stead.  Before  thee  lies  the  land 
promised  to  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob.  Enter  in  this 
day  and  possess  it." 

But  Joshua  answered,  saith  the  record  of  Caleb,  "  I 
have  seen  the  river  which  lieth  between.  It  is  risen  high 
above  its  banks  and  no  man  may  pass  over,  for  the  cur- 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  b9 

rent  is  both  broad  and  deep."  He  was  answered  after 
this  manner  : 

"Thou  shalt  see  the  waters  of  Jordan  cut  off  as  at 
the  sea  of  Egypt.  Command  the  priests,  the  Levites, 
that  they  take  up  the  Ark  of  the  covenant  and  bear  it 
towards  the  river.  Let  the  hosts  of  Israel  follow  by  their 
armies,  but  be  careful  to  leave  two  thousand  cubits'  space 
between  them  and  the  Ark  of  God." 

When  the  God  of  the  Hebrews  had  further  spoken  to 
the  Hebrew  general,  and  given  him  some  other  directions, 
Joshua  left  the  celestial  presence,  and  instructed  the 
elders,  Levites,  and  people  according  to  the  command  he 
had  received.  Then  the  captain  and  chief  officers  of  the 
host  passed  in  and  out  among  all  the  companies  repeating 
the  orders  of  their  general,  that  the  people  should  follow 
the  ark  at  a  reverential  distance,  and  prepare  to  go  over 
Jordan. 

The  sight  alone  of  the  swift  and  perilous  river  filled 
with  consternation  the  timid,  and  the  women  and  the 
children,  who,  not  having  seen  the  dividing  of  the  waters 
of  the  Red  Sea  before  their  fathers,  did  not  realize  that 
the  Jordan  could  be  divided  so  that  it  might  be  crossed 
dry-shod. 

The  twelve  priests  of  Israel  took  up  the  sacred  Ark  of 
their  God,  and  moved  slowly  forward  until  they  came  to 
the  brink  of  the  stream  when,  at  the  voice  of  Joshua, 
they  stood  still.  The  van  of  the  marching  hosts  of 
Israel  also  halted  two  thousand  cubits  distant,  while,  as 
far  as  the  eye  could  see,  the  prolonged  column  of  the 
Hebrews  stretched  eastward  to  the  mountains  till  their  re 
motest  companies  could  not  be  distinguished  as  men,  but 
seemed  to  be  rather  the  shadows  of  clouds  slowly  passing 


70  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

along  the  earth  at  their  base.  The  king  and  his  court 
and  his  people  from  the  towers  and  walls  of  Jericho,  of 
Ai,  and  other  cities,  beheld  this  amazing  spectacle  with 
mingled  awe  and  mocking. 

In  the  midst  of  his  derision  at  the  idea  of  their  at 
tempting  the  passage,  an  old  courtier  whispered  in  his 
ear,  "Beware,  0  king!  Their  God,  forty  years  ago, 
opened  a  passage  for  this  mighty  multitude  whom  you 
deride  and  scorn,  through  a  great  sea,  so  that  they  wrent 
over  on  dry  ground.  Observe  their  compact  movements ! 
They  have  some  scheme  in  view  by  the  confident  manner 
they  approach  the  banks  and  take  their  stand!" 

"Is  not  that  the  shrine  of  their  god,  those  twelve 
white  robed  men  bear?"  asked  the  king,  beginning  to 
feel  ill  at  ease,  and  drinking  a  deep  draught  from  his 
wine  cup. 

The  question  was  not  answered ;  for  a  great  shout  from 
all  the  towers  and  walls  which  were  lined  with  people 
caused  the  startled  king  to  look  again  towards  the  river 

But  I  will  transcribe  the  scene  which  followed,  from 
the  parchments  of  Caleb  the  Good : 

"When,"  says  this  record,  "the  twelve  Levites  had 
reached  the  brim  of  the  river,  they  stood  still  until  the 
ceaselessly  advancing  columns  of  the  Hebrew  legions, 
one  after  another,  deployed  out  into  the  plain  facing  the 
Jordan.  For  five  hours  they  thus  came,  rolling  on,  wave 
after  wave,  battalion  after  battalion,  host  following  host, 
each  with  its  standard  and  ensign  of  its  tribe  and  family 
displayed,  until  their  front  stretched  along  the  river  and 
parallel  with  it  six  thousand  cubits,  or  more  than  a  mile 
and  a  half  in  line;  while  its  depth  in  the  rear  towards 
the  south-east  was  two  leagues,  including  the  neces- 


THE    REBELLION    OP    PRTXCE    ABSALOM.  71 

sary  spaces  between  the  tribes  and  companies  for  the  bag 
gage,  cattle,  camp-furniture,  and,  besides,  for  the  women 
and  children.  The  whole  plain  was  covered  with  their 
dark  masses  to  the  bases  of  the  black  mountain  of 
Nebo. 

"At  length,  the  Hebrew  general  elevated  the  sacred  rod 
of  Moses  which  he  held  in  his  hand,  and  commanded 
the  priests  to  enter  the  water,  carrying  the  Ark.  There 
was  a  brief  instant  of  hesitation  on  the  part  of  the 
bearers,  and  many  of  them  glanced  at  the  face  of  Joshua 
to  see  if  their  leader  were  in  earnest ;  for  it  seemed  to 
them  certain  destruction  to  attempt  to  take  ten  steps  into 
the  foaming  and  roaring  waters  before  them.  He  replied 
to  their  hesitating  regards  by  a  quiet  but  firm  wave  of 
the  hand,  signifying  his  wrish  for  them  to  advance. 

"The  priests,  which  had  borne  the  Ark  to  the  water's 
edge,  then  obediently  raised  it  from  the  ground  upon 
their  shoulders;  and  the  two  foremost,  side  by  side,  en 
tered  the  river.  As  the  soles  of  their  sandals  were 
dipped  into  the  water,  the  waves  retreated  from  before 
them  in  a  remarkable  manner.  The  twelve  priests 
amazed,  steadily  moved  forward,  and  began  to  chant  a 
sublime  hymn,  commencing, 

"'The  waters  saw  thee,  0  God,  and  fled ! 
The  Jordan  is  driven  back  at  thy  coming/ 

"  Continuing  still  to  advance,  the  twelve  bearers  of  the 
Ark  entered  the  revealed  bed  of  the  river,  a  short  dis 
tance,  their  feet  scarcely  wetted  by  the  retreating  stream. 
Here  by  the  command  of  Joshua  they  halted ! 

"Now  a  sublime  and  awful  spectacle  exhibited  itself 
before  our  eyes !  All  the  broad  river  above  the  Ark  was 
suddenly  arrested  in  its  course,  and  began  to  pile  itself 


72  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

up  into  a  wall  of  roaring  waters,  each  moment  heaping 
its  waves  higher  and  higher,  as  if  struggling  with  stupen 
dous  energy  to  turn  back  on  itself  rather  than  pass  the 
Ark  of  God !  That  portion  of  the  river  below  the  Ark 
being  deprived  of  its  natural  supply  by  the  sudden 
stopping  of  that  which  was  above  it,  shoaled  rapidly 
in  its  bed,  each  moment  becoming  shallower  with  the 
fleetness  of  its  downward  flight ;  so  that  where  the 
priests'  feet  stood,  and  thence,  quite  across  to  the 
western  bank,  the  stones,  gravel,  and  sand,  soon  became 
visible ! 

"In  this  manner  the  waters  above  the  Ark  being  stayed 
by  the  power  of  God  so  that  they  could  not  pass  the 
terrible  place  where  It  rested,  and  the  waters  below  it 
flying  away  as  if  with  terror  from  its  Presence,  there 
widened  every  instant  a  broad  road  in  the  bed  of  the 
river  opposite  the  front  of  the  Israelitish  line.  It  was  a 
wonderful  sight  to  behold  one  half  of  Jordan  fleeing 
away,  until,  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  its  waters  continued 
no  longer  visible,  leaving,  for  two  miles,  its  bed  dry  from 
shore  to  shore,  while  the  northern  half  stood  fixed,  foam 
ing  and  rising  in  heaps,  a  wild  precipice  of  boiling  waters, 
seeking  to  rush  downward,  but  held  back,  as  it  were,  with 
bit  and  bridle,  by  an  invisible  Hand!" 

How  amazing  is  all  this,  your  majesty !  How  awful 
the  power  of  this  God  of  the  Hebrews !  Here  is  recorded 
a  miracle  as  wonderful  as  that  which  is  written  of  the 
dividing  of  the  Red  Sea !  But  I  continue  my  narrative 
from  the  parchments  before  me. 

"When  the  children  of  Israel,"  says  the  writer  of 
the  record,  "  beheld  this  manifestation  of  the  presence 
and  greatness  of  Jehovah,  the  waters  standing  upon  a 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       73 

heap  on  one  side  and  flying  wholly  away  on  the  other, 
they  set  up  a  great  shout  of  joy  and  of  wonder,  wThich 
must  have  made  the  walls  of  Jericho  shake. 

"  The  king  from  his  terrace  had  also  witnessed  the  sight 
of  his  river  rent  in  twain,  one  part  leaving  his  dominions, 
and  the  other  rushing  back  on  its  course  overwhelming 
trees,  villages,  cliffs,  with  its  reverse  torrents.  He 
trembled  with  fear,  and  stood  gazing  in  mute  horror  upon 
the  sublime  and  appalling  scene  before  him. 

"  The  priests  who  bore  the  Ark  were  now  commanded 
by  Joshua  to  lift  it  upon  their  shoulders  and  march  on 
until  they  came  to  the  middle  of  the  bed  of  Jordan  and 
there  stop.  Then  came  after  them,  walking  into  the 
river  bed,  dry  shod,  the  Levites,  four  hundred  in  num 
ber,  bearing  the  rich  curtains  and  pillars  of  brass,  hang 
ings  of  purple  and  broidered  work,  and  other  parts  of  the 
tabernacle  and  its  furniture,  with  all  the  sacred  vessels 
appertaining  to  the  sacrifices  therein.  In  the  midst  of 
the  river,  the  priests  stayed  the  Ark.  Then  those  who 
bore  the  tabernacle  kept  on  past  them  and  reached  the 
other  shore !  The  van  of  the  main  body  was  now  com 
manded  by  Joshua,  who  stood  on  the  land,  to  move  for 
ward;  and  magnificent  was  the  sight!  In  column,  with 
not  less  than  a  mile  and  a  half  of  front,  the  bannered 
hosts  marched  towards  the  river.  There  was  no  sound 
of  trumpet;  no  voice  heard,  only  the  deep  tread  of  the 
tens  and  hundreds  of  thousands  of  men !  Entering  the 

O 

bed  of  Jordan,  the  van  occupied  up  and  down  its  length 
a  space  as  far  as  a  man  could  be  distinguished  by  the 
eye  from  the  end  of  one  wing  to  the  end  of  the  other 
wing.  Their  onward  march  now  ceased  not !  Hour  after 
hour  the  mighty  current  of  the  human  river  flowed 


74  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

athwart  the  dry  bed  of  the  suspended  Jordan,  until  at 
length  the  vast  multitude  overflowed  the  valley  on  the 
other  side,  and  filled  the  whole  plain  with  their  terrible 
hosts. 

uWhen  the  last  company  had  reached  the  banks,  the 
Ark,  which  until  now  had  stood  immoveable  in  the  middle 
of  the  river-bed,  was  lifted  up  again  by  its  consecrated 
bearers,  and  borne  landward.  No  sooner  had  the  last 
priest's  sandals  touched  the  grassy  bank,  than  Joshua, 
who  came  over  last  of  all,  turning  to  the  Jordan,  extended 
towards  it  the  rod  of  God  in  his  hand,  when  lo !  the  ac 
cumulated  wall  of  waters  gave  way!  and,  as  a  fierce 
courser,  long  held  in  by  the  curb,  plunges  madly  for 
ward  when  released  from  restraint,  so  the  mighty  Jordan, 
unbound,  leaped  into  the  abyss ;  and  with  the  roar  of 
rolling  thunders,  and  in  the  shape  of  a  gigantic  cataract, 
it  poured  its  imprisoned  waters  once  more  along  its  de 
serted  channel!  All  Israel  stood,  and  beheld,  amazed, 
the  sublime  sight ! 

"From  his  palace  the  king,  who  had  watched  with 
consternation  the  crossing  of  the  countless  hosts  of  the 
Lord,  also  beheld  the  return  of  the  river  to  its  bounds, 
and  saw  the  unloosed,  dark  flood  rush  wildly  towards  the 
sea.  That  which  had  been  a  barrier,  as  he  believed,  be 
tween  him  and  his  foe,  he  now  saw  was  to  become  the 
bounds  of  a  prison-house  for  himself  and  his  people ; 
shutting  within  the  land  his  dreaded  foes.  Already 
he  had  assembled  his  army  about  him  within  the 
gates,  confident  in  the  strength  of  his  lofty  walls ! 
He  now  beheld  the  vast  multitude  pitch  their  camp  in 
the  green  plain  (first  setting  up  twelve  stones,  brought 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.,  75 

• 

by  them  from  the  bed  of  Jordan,  as  a  memorial,)  by 
tribes  and  by  companies,  with  the  tabernacle  erected  in 
the  midst  arid  the  dread  Ark  of  their  God  near  it !  As 
the  day  closed,  the  smoke  of  burning  sacrifices  rose  from 
the  altar  of  the  Hebrews,  and  the  voices  of  the  priests 
were  heard  chanting  a  conquering  hymn  to  their  God. 
Night  at  length  veiled  the  scene ;  and  silence,  unbroken 
save  by  the  calls  of  alert  sentinels  on  the  walls  of  Jeri 
cho,  and  the  rushing  of  the  wild  waters  of  the  river, 
reigned  over  city  and  encampment,  over  town  and  tent." 

Here  closes  the  second  book  of  the  record  of  Caleb, 
the  wise. 

Thus,  your  majesty,  did  this  wonderful  people  enter 
the  land  promised  them  as  a  possession !  Was  not  such 
a  triumphant  and  glorious  entrance  a  full  reward  for 
their  long  years  of  wandering  ?  Was  it  not  a  just  recom 
pense  for  all  their  sufferings?  How  must  this  people 
have  adored  their  mighty  God  for  His  marvelous  works 
in  their  sight !  What  a  profound  impression  of  his  ma 
jesty,  power,  and  omnipotence  must  this  miracle  of  the 
Jordan  have  produced  upon  their  minds !  Who  among 
them  all  would  henceforth  dare  to  disobey  His  com 
mands  or  murmur  against  His  divine  will !  What  a 
manifestation  to  this  barbaric  King  of  Jericho,  of  the 
greatness  and  strength  of  the  God  of  the  Hebrews ! 
How  impotent  must  he  have  felt  his  own  power  before 
such  an  exhibition  of  that  of  the  Lord  of  the  Israelites ! 
Like  another  Pharaoh,  he  must  have  trembled,  even  while 
he  defied ! 

The  next  day  there  was  made  a  great  national  feast  to 
their  God,  of  unleavened  cakes.  The  morning  after  this, 
to  the  great  consternation  and  surprise  of  the  Hebrews, 


76  ,  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

when  they  went  early  abroad  from  their  tents,  as  afore 
time,  for  forty  years  past,  to  gather  the  manna  which  fell 
from  the  heavens  for  their  sustenance,  lo  !  none  was  to  be 
seen  upon  the  earth  !  It  had  never  failed  them  before  ! 
When  Joshua  perceived  this,  and  that  they  looked  to 
him  for  relief,  he  made  known  to  them  that  now  they 
had  come  into  their  own  proper  inheritance,  the  land 
of  Abraham,  a  land  of  corn,  wine,  oil,  and  fruit,  a  land 
flowing  with  milk  and  honey,  they  were  to  gather  of  the 
abundance  thereof  and  eat,  as  they  were  to  have  manna 
no  more  !  All  around  them  the  wide  plains  were  teem- 
ing  with  golden  corn  ripe  for  the  sickle ;  and  as  God, 
to  whom  belongs  the  whole  earth  and  man  upon  it,  saith 
the  chronicle  of  Caleb,  had  given  the  land  and  its  pro 
ductions  to  them  as  their  rightful  heritage,  the  people 
gladly  hastened  to  gather  the  corn  and  fruits,  and  pro 
vide  food  for  their  families. 

The  King  of  Jericho,  shut  up  in  his  strong  city,  had 
observed  all  that  was  done  in  the  camp ;  and  as  he  .be 
held  no  battering  rams  or  engines  of  war  among  them 
for  the  assault  of  cities  and  castles,  he  said  to  his  chief 
officers : — 

"  They  will  soon  waste  the  plains,  these  Egyptian 
slaves,  and  march  on  like  locusts  !  They  will  not  assail 
me  here,  for  they  know  they  cannot  enter  my  gates  of 
iron  and  brass,  or  make  a  breach  !  We  have  our  grana 
ries  well  stored  for  a  siege ;  we  will  wait  in  quiet  until 
hunger  drives  them  to  other  kings'  dominions." 

In  the  meanwhile  Joshua  was  troubled  in  mind  to 
know  how  he  should  get  possession  of  the  city,  for  it  was 
the  key  to  the  land.  He  walked  first  with  his  officers, 
and  then  afterwards  alone  all  around  the  great  and 


THE    REBELLION   OF    PllIXCE    ABSALOM.  T» 

strong  place  which  stood,  in  the  pride  of  its  citadels  and 
towers,  the  glory  and  strength  of  the  plains.  But  his 
chief  captains  united  in  saying  that  it  was  impregnable, 
and  that  it  could  not  be  taken  except  by  a  long  siege,  by 
which  to  reduce  them  to  capitulation  through  hunger  and 
thirst. 

In  the  evening  of  the  third  day,  records  the  book  of 
Caleb,  as  the  Hebrew  general  was  slowly  walking  before 
Jericho,  and  gazing  musingly  upon  its  lofty  battlements 
lined  with  archers,  spearmen,  bowmen,  and  mailed  sol 
diers,  and  saw  the  formidable  slings  between  heavy 
beams  with  which  they  could  discharge  huge  rocks  into 
the  plain,  and  was  doubting  if  it  could  ever  be  taken, 
when  from  between  two  palm  trees  there  suddenly  stepped 
before  him  a  tall  young  man  with  a  drawn  scimitar  in 
his  hand  !  Immediately  the  Hebrew  warrior-chief  drew 
his  sword,  advanced  upon  him,  and  cried : — 

"Art  thou  for  us,  or  against  us  !" 

"I  am  a  captain  in  the  hosts  of  the  God  of  Israel," 
answered  the  young  man,  whose  face  was  like  a  god's  for 
beauty  and  courage,  while  his  eyes  beamed  with  celestial 
splendor.  "  I  am  against  thine  adversaries,  and  am 
come  to  fight  on  thy  part  1" 

When  the  Hebrew  chief  heard  these  words,  he  fell 
prostrate  to  the  earth  and  worshiped  him.  Then  the 
youthful  and  glorious  captain  of  the  Lord's  hosts  said  to 
him, 

"  Loose  thy  sandals,  for  the  place  whereon  thou  standest 
is  holy  !" 

When  Joshua  had  obeyed,  he  looked  up,  and  lo !  a  celes 
tial  light  shone  from  the  person  of  the  warrior  of  God, 
and  his  robes  were  radiant  as  the  glory  of  the  morning. 


78  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Then  said  the  captain  of  the  hosts  of  heaven,  "  Thou 
seest  that  this  city,  even  Jericho,  is  straitly  shut  up  be 
cause  of  thee  and  thine  armies !  None  come  out  or  go 
in.  But  lo  !  I  have  given  it  into  thy  hand,  and  the  king 
thereof,  and  all  its  mighty  men  of  valor  !  But  thou  must 
first  command  that  the  priests  who  bear  the  ark,  pre 
ceded  by  seven  more  holy  men  of  God,  each  with  a  trum 
pet  in  his  hand,  shall  compass  the  city  seven  days,  once 
each  day,  blowing  with  their  trumpets  continually. 
With  them  thou  shalt  send  a  body  of  tried  men-of-war  to 
guard  them  from  assault ;  and  the  Seventy  Elders  of  the 
people  shall  also  go  with  them.  On  the  seventh  day  thou 
shalt  assemble  the  whole  army  of  Israel  in  all  their  com 
panies,  and  march  seven  times  around  the  city ;  and  the 
seven  priests  shall  sound  the  trumpets  as  they  go  before 
the  ark,  ceasing  not  until  they  return  whence  they  set 
out.  At  the  end  of  the  seventh  circuit  of  the  city,  all 
the  priests  shall  sound  long  and  loud  with  their  horns, 
and  the  trumpets  of  the  Hebrew  hosts  shall  mingle  their 
voices  in  the  peal,  and  all  Israel  shall  shout  with  the 
voice  of  God !  Then  shall  the  Lord  deliver  the  city  into 
your  hand !" 

The  celestial  vision,  for  such  it  was,  after  some  further 
instructions,  disappeared  from  the  eyes  of  the  Hebrew 
leader,  who  joyfully  returned  to  the  camp,  his  confidence 
in  the  help  of  his  God  confirmed  anew. 

Obedient  to  the  command  of  the  Divine  man  with  the 
sword  in  his  hand,  Joshua  sent  forth  on  the  following 
morning  the  priests  with  the  Ark,  seven  more  with  trum 
pets,  the  senate,  and  the  guard  of  a  thousand  men-at- 
arms.  For  six  days  they  made  a  solemn  circuit  of  the 
city,  while  the  king  and  his  mighty  men,  his  courtiers. 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  79 

and  his  concubines,  at  first  wondering  at  the  sight,  after 
the  third  and  fourth  day,  laughed,  and  derided,  and 
mocked  this  strange  procession,  from  their  terraces  and 
battlements.  They  shot  arrows  and  slung  missiles  of 
war,  in  hopes  to  reach  them,  but  Joshua  had  forbidden 
the  priests  coming  within  bow-shot  of  their  walls.  On 
the  morning  of  the  seventh  day,  said  the  merry  kino;  to 
his  courtiers, 

"  Come,  let  us  see  if  this  unmeaning  procession  maketh 
its  appearance  to-day  also  !  By  the  gods  of  Jericho  !  it 
is  full  time !  Nay,  they  will  not  march !  They  are 
weary  looking  at  the  outer  Avails  of  my  fair  city  to  no 
purpose  !  What  can  have  been  their  purpose  in  taking 
the  air  for  six  days  past  around  about  our  battlements  ? 
But  their  odd  tramping  has  come  to  an  end,  I  hope  !" 

"Nay,  my  lord  king,"-  said  one  of  his  captains, 
"  coming  in  with  haste.  The  whole  army  of  the  He 
brews,  their  whole  people  to  a  man,  are  in  vast  motion 
like  a  sea,  and  are  coming  on  in  terrible  grandeur,  their 
Ark  in  advance,  and  above  it  shining  a  strange  and  ter 
rible  light,  like  the  angry  fire  of  a  human  Eye  !" 

The  king  and  his  courtiers  hastened  to  the  battlements ! 
The  report  of  his  captain-at-arms  was  indeed  true.  Like 
a  mighty  river,  heaving  and  dark  with  the  swell  of  a 
coming  storm,  the  armed  hosts  of  the  Hebrew  people 
were  to  be  seen  flowing  along  the  plain,  and  slowly  drawing 
near,  each  moment  encompassing  the  city  closer  and 
closer,  as  a  huge  serpent  gradually  coils  about  its  victim. 
They  marched  with  banners  on  high  and  trumpets  sound 
ing,  and  the  fall  of  their  feet  was  as  the  sound  of  many 
waters,  and  their  tread  upon  the  earth  shook  the  plain, 
and  caused  the  red  wine  in  the  jeweled  cup  of  the  king, 


80  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

which  he  had  left  standing  on  his  table  of  porphyry,  to 
tremble  with  tiny  waves  !  This  mighty  multitude  gradu 
ally  filled  the  vale,  and  rolled  its  swelling  human  waves 
high  up  along  the  sides  of  the  overhanging  hills.  The 
king,  pale  and  silent,  looked  on !  Ridicule  and  derision 
ceased  to  have  place  upon  his  white  lips.  A  cold  terror 
settled  on  all  hearts  !  Until  now  he  had  no  conception 
of  their  countless  numbers  !  What  could  mean  this  mys 
terious  march  of  seven  days !  and  this  last  one  in  battle 
array,  and  so  grand  and  terrible  with  its  display  of 
power  in  numbers  !  Onward  they  come  !  they  pass  the 
citadel !  and  the  great  circuit  is  at  length  completed, 
and  they  have  not  attacked.  The  king  breathes  easier  ! 
But  hark  !  They  come  again !  The  Ark  enveloped  in 
i  ts  burning  cloud,  the  priests,  the  elders,  the  men-of-war, 
Joshua,  and  the  twelve  armies  following,  all  resume  their 
awful  advance,  while  their  trumpets  peal  continually, 
making  now  one  unbroken  roar  during  their  whole  com 
pass  of  the  walls.  When  a  second  time  they  have  ter 
minated  the  circle  of  the  fated  city  without  any  show  of 
attacking  it,  the  king  faintly  smiles  with  assurance,  and 
his  courtiers  attempt  a  jest,  but  with  pale  and  uncertain 
mirth.  They  recall  the  recent  passage  of  the  Jordan  ! 
and  they  fear  that  such  mysterious  demonstrations  as 
these  mean  something !  The  inscrutable  character  of 
these  encompassing  marches  awes  and  troubles  them ! 
The  courtiers,  as  becomes  these  royal  sycophants,  strive 
to  amuse  the  monarch  with  their  faint  wit  upon  these 
strange  evolutions.  % 

But  the  king  looked  grave,  as  a  third  time  he  heard 
the  advancing  trumpets,  and  beheld  the   Ark  re-appear 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       81 

beyond  the  grove  of  palmtrees,  the  point  where  it  always 
first  canie  in  sight. 

When,  however,  for  six  times,  the  mighty  host  had  com 
passed  the  city  without  halt  or  purpose,  the  fears  of  the 
king  disappeared ;  and  he  lightly  joined  in  the  jests  of 
his  flatterers. 

"Without  doubt,  your  majesty,  these  wandering  He 
brews  are  lunatics,  and  this  is  a  sort  of  mad  march  round 
and  round  they  are  doing  in  honor  of  the  moon !"  said  one. 

"  Nay,  but  rather  all  blind ;  and  in  trying  to  find 
their  way  out  of  the  valley,  perform  these  endless  circles 
about  Jericho,"  said  another. 

"  Then,"  said  the  king,  with  a  smile  and  an  oath  ;  "  I 
will  give  the  richest  quarter  part  of  my  kingdom  to  the 
nan  with  two  eyes,  who  will  show  them  the  way  safely 
out  of  my  dominions." 

"  Peradventure,"  said  a  third  courtier,  "the  man  with 
two  eyes  would  shortly  be  without  a  head  to  keep  them 
in,  were  he  to  venture  thither." 

"  One  would  imagine,"  said  a  soldier  in  gilt  armor, 
who  was  a  captain  of  men-at-arms  in  the  palace,  "  that 
they  expected  to  see  walls  fall  down  to  let  them  in,  or  at 
least  the  gates  fly  open  at  their  trumpet  calls." 

And  so  the  king  and  his  people  jested,  but  only  to 
conceal  their  secret  fears. 

The  seventh  time  that  day  the  host  of  the  Lord  en 
compassed  Jericho,  and  then  facing  it,  stood  still,  every 
man  with  his  sword  in  his  right  hand. 

"  See !  Have  they  not  come  to  a  halt  ?"  cried  the 
king,  who,  perceiving  that  nothing  was  done  to  the  city, 
had  quite  recovered  his  gayety,  and  was  making  great 
mirth  with  his  friends  at  this  strange  pastime  of  going 


82  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

round  and  round  his  capital  seemingly  without  end  or 
aim.  But  when  he  perceived  that  they  had  stopped  and 
turned  every  man  his  face  towards  the  city,  and  in  silence 
seemed  to  await  some  event,  his  heart  was  troubled, 
and  the  hearts  of  all  his  people  with  him.  Ascending 
quickly  the  highest  tower  of  the  citadel  accompanied  by 
a  few  of  his  officers,  he  turned  and  looked  around  him. 
The  sight  made  his  knees  shake.  He  saw  that  the  dark 
host  of  the  Hebrew  armies  completely  enclosed  his  city 
without  a  break  in  the  fatal  chain.  It  was  a  terrible  spec 
tacle  to  him,  to  behold  that  formidable  wall  of  armed  men 
surrounding  his  wall  of  towers  and  battlements  of  stone. 

At  a  distance,  he  discerned  a  party  of  horsemen  gal 
loping  along  the  line.  At  their  head,  mounted  upon  a 
noble  charger  white  as  snow,  was  a  gray-haired  warrior, 
with  a  burnished  helmet  and  a  mailed  form,  and  waving  in 
his  hand  a  white  rod.  His  sword  was  in  its  sheath.  He 
rode  rapidly  along  the  line  of  the  close  ranks  of  the  He 
brews,  and  at  intervals  reined  up  to  address  a  few  words 
of  command ;  and  then,  followed  by  his  escort  of  mounted 
men-at-arms,  he  would  gallop  on  again.  The  king  knew 
him  to  be  the  leader  Joshua.  He  felt  that  now  some 
thing  menacing  the  safety  of  his  city  was  about  to  be 
attempted.  What,  he  could  not  divine  !  But  he  was  ill 
at  ease. 

"What  can  they  do?"  he  said  to  his  chief  captain, 
looking  for  courage  and  confidence  into  his  pallid  face ; 
"  Are  we  not  shut  in  with  gates  of  brass  and  bars  of  iron  ? 
Are  not  our  walls  too  high  to  be  scaled  ?  Besides  they 
have  no  ladders  nor  other  engines  of  war !  Yet  this 
spectacle  is  terrible !  I  feel  like  a  man  who  awakes  and 
beholds  across  a  chasm  a  lion  crouching  and  bending  his 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRIXCE    ABSALOM.  83 

piercing  gaze  upon  him.  The  chasm  is  wide,  yet  the  lion 
may  achieve  the  great  bound  and  clasp  him  in  the  em 
brace  of  death  !  I  know  they  cannot  mount  the  walls  ; 
yet  I  do  not  feel  secure !  This  silent  expectation  is 
fearful !  What  a  dark  and  menacing  aspect  they  pre 
sent  ! 

At  this  instant  the  air  was  rent  with  the  peal  of  a 
thousand  trumpets.  The  warlike  sounds  grew  louder 
and  louder,  longer  and  longer,  until  one  fierce  roar  of 
brazen  horns  appalled  all  ears  within  the  city.  The  very 
towers  shook,  and  the  citadel  on  which  the  king  stood 
with  his  officers  vibrated  beneath  their  feet.  With  a  cry 
of  terror,  the  monarch  called  upon  his  officers  to  ily  for 
safety  below,  for  the  tower  was  falling.  Suddenly  the 
trumpets  ceased  their  clamor  !  Silence  like  that  of  mid 
night  succeeded  for  a  moment,  and  then,  while  the  pale 
King  of  Jericho  still  stood  on  the  tower,  hesitating  and 
petrified  with  fear  as  he  knew  not  what  judgment  was  about 
to  come  upon  him  and  his  city,  the  voice  of  the  Hebrew 
general  was  heard  through  all  the  plain  which  was  in 
front  of  the  king's  gate,  crying, 

"  Shout  aloud,  0  Israel !  The  sword  of  the  captain 
of  the  Lord's  hosts  shall  fight  for  you  this  day  !  Shout 
with  the  voice  of  one  man,  for  the  Lord  hath  given  you 
the  city !" 

The  tens  of  thousands  and  hundreds  of  thousands  qf 
men  in  the  army  of  Israel  at  once  lifted  up  their  voice ! 
It  seemed  as  if  the  heavens  would  fall  and  the  earth  rend, 
so  loud,  so  dreadful,  so  like  the  thunder  of  the  voice  of 
God,  was  this  fearful  war-shout  of  three  millions  of 
people  in  one  wild,  fierce,  menacing  battle-cry  !  The 
king  in  nervous  terror  shrieked  a  frantic  response,  and 


84  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

his  courtiers  answered  it  like  men  gone  mad  with  affright ! 
For  not  only  did  the  awful  voice  of  the  multitude  appall 
their  hearts,  but  they  beheld  suddenly  appear  in  the  air 
above  the  Ark  a  man  with  a  sword  in  his  right  hand 
whose  stature  overtopped  the  highest  towers  of  the  city ! 
They  saw  him,  at  the  great  shouting  of  the  people, 
shake  his  gleaming  falchion  in  the  air,  stretch  it  forth 
towards  the  city  and  strike  !  Like  a  flash  of  lightning 
it  seemed  to  encircle  the  walls  and  cleave  them  close  to 
their  foundations,  so  that  towers,  gates,  battlements, 
citadel  and  the  walls  fell  over  all  about  the  city  in  the 
same  instant  level  with  the  ground  ;  leaving  the  interior 
of  Jericho,  with  its  palaces,  temples,  streets,  and  dwell 
ings,  exposed  to  the  eyes  and  approach  of  all  Israel  sur 
rounding  it.  Only  one  little  part  of  the  wall  with  an 
obscure  inn  thereon  stood  firm !  The  sky  was  darkened 
with  the  clouds  of  ascending  dust  which,  reaching  a 
certain  height,  hung  like  a  pall  over  the  now  wall-less 
capital ! 

"  Advance  and  take  the  city  and  destroy  all  within,  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,"  cried  Joshua  advancing 
before  them ! 

Then  with  a  great  shout  of  victory  the  Israelites  moved, 
each  man  straight  forward  from  the  place  where  he  stood, 
and  entered  the  city  sword  in  hand.  It  was  soon  taken, 
All  the  inhabitants  were  put  to  death  !  Joshua  sough'i 
for  the  king,  and  found  him  in  his  palace  lying  deadr 
with  his  sword,  upon  which,  in  his  despair,  he  had  thrown 
himself,  sheathed  in  his  heart ! 

Here,  your  majesty,  end,  for  the  present,  my  transcripts 
from  the  records. 

The  city  having  been  plundered  of  its  gold,  silver, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       85 

iron,  and  brass,  was  set  on  fire  and  burned  to  the  ground. 
Thus  the  first  conquest  of  the  Hebrews  was  achieved  in 
a  manner  altogether  in  keeping  with  their  miraculous 
history.  "Where  human  means  are  ineffectual,  their 
God  lends  them  the  aid  of  his  mighty  power ;  but 
first  he  bids  them  work  for  the  end,  as  if  they  ex 
pected  to  accomplish  it  solely  by  the  means  made  use  of, 
alone  ! 

Why  they  should  have  been  commanded  to  compass 
the  city  so  many  times,  thirteen  in  all,  or  what  virtue 
there  is  in  the  number  seven,  my  dear  Belus,  I  do  not 
profess  to  know.  The  result,  however,  was,  as  I  have 
stated,  that  the  lofty  walls  in  which  the  King  of  Jericho 
trusted  fell  instantaneously  at  the  shouting,  and  exposed 
the  city  to  the  mercy  or  vengeance  of  its  foes.  One  only 
house  stood  with  the  wall  beneath  it.  This  was  the 
abode  of  a  poor  woman,  an  innkeeper,  who  saved  the 
spies  of  Joshua  when  pursued,  and  hid  them  in  her  house 
until  they  could  go  out  in  safety  and  secrecy.  Her 
house  was  singularly  preserved  amid  the  general  over 
throwing  of  the  walls  ;  and  Joshua  generously  saved  her 
and  all  her  kindred  from  the  universal  slaughter  which 
followed  the  miraculous  taking  of  the  city. 

I  will  now  close  this  very  long  epistle,  your  majesty, 
describing  scenes  enacted  here  nearly  five  hundred  years 
ago.  To-morrow,  escorted  by  Prince  Jonathan,  I  take 
up  my  line  of  march  for  the  court  of  Saul. 

Farewell, 

Tour  faithful 

ARBACES, 


86  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;   OK, 


LETTER    III. 

ARBACES,  THE  AMBASSADOR 

To  KING  BELUS. 

CITY  OP  RAMAH,  IN  THE  LAND  OF  JFDEA. 
MY   DEAR   COUSIN   AND   KlNG : 

YOUR  majesty  in  this  letter  will  learn  what  events 
befel  me  in  my  journey  from  Jericho  to  this  place,  and 
what  transpired  in  my  interview  with  the  Seer  of  the 
Hebrews,  at  whose  palace  I  have  been  for  the  past  two 
days  a  guest. 

The  young  Israelitish  Prince,  Jonathan,  who  had 
been  sent  by  his  royal  father  to  escort  me  from  the  pro 
vince  of  the  Jordan,  was  ready  with  his  body-guard  of 
two  hundred  Hebrew  men-at-arms,  early  in  the  morning 
after  my  last  letter  was  written.  The  sun  had  not  yet 
risen,  when  his  trumpets  rung  musically  through  the  val 
ley,  the  wild  notes  coming  back  in  melodious  echoes  from 
the  surrounding  cliffs.  I  was  soon  in  the  saddle,  and 
rode  forth  to  meet  him,  my  own  legion  being  already  in 
order  of  march,  .marshaled  before  my  tent,  under  the 
command  of  the  brave  Nacherib;  who,  with  his  silvery 
locks  flowing  beneath  his  steel,  gold-inlaid  helmet,  his 
burnished  cuirass,  and  mounted  on  his  noble  war-horse 
shining  with  polished  scales  of  mail,  looked  the  personi 
fication  of  Belassar  the  god  of  war  : 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       87 

The  caravan  was  already  alert  and  in  motion  westward 
under  its  chief.  I  lingered  to  receive  a  courteous  fare 
well  from  the  elders  of  the  city,  who  expressed,  in  part 
ing  with  me,  their  respect  for  Assyria  and  for  your 
majesty,  and  a  desire  that  friendship  might  be  cemented 
between  the  two  kingdoms  forever.  I  warmly  recipro 
cated  this  sentiment ;  for  I  assure  your  majesty  that  if 
we  can  maintain  terms  of  amity  with  this  warlike  peo 
ple,  they  will  afford  the  best  safeguard  and  frontier  west 
ward  for  your  kingdom  in  reference  to  Egypt,  and  its 
ambitious  Pharaohs. 

The  signal  was  now  given  to  march,  and  the  princs 
and  I,  side  by  side,  rode  forward,  when  there  approached 
us  from  the  gate  of  the  city  the  tall  young  warrior,  Joab, 
who  had  assembled  the  seven  thousand  men  to  confront 
me,  when  at  the  head  of  my  retinue  I  descended  into  the 
valley  the  other  side  of  the  river  !  The  young  man  was 
on  foot,  but  armed  as  when  I  first  beheld  him.  He  was 
of  large  frame  for  his  youth,  and  wore  his  armor  awk 
wardly,  as  if  more  of  a  herdsman,  which  he  really  was, 
than  a  warrior.  But  in  his  large  expressive  eyes 
burned  that  resolution  and  courage  of  soul  which,  in  the 
moment  of  danger,  had  given  him  the  undisputed  leader 
ship  of  the  hastily-gathered  army  which  had  met  me  be 
yond  the  Jordan. 

Upon  coming  near  he  said  to  the  prince,  "  My  lord 
Jonathan,  permit  me  to  go  up  to  Hebron  in  your  com 
pany.  I  wish  to  become  by  profession  a  soldier,  and  to 
serve  the  king  with  my  sword !" 

"  That  thou  slialt,  if  it  please  thy  humor,  good  Joab  ;" 
answered  the  prince,  with  the  smile  and  tone  of  one  who 
had  knowledge  of  him  :  "  My  father  needs  brave,  hearty, 


THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

and  strong  arms  about  him !  You  shall  go  with  me,  and 
I  will  take  you  into  my  own  body-guard,  until  the  king 
shall  call  for  your  service.  These  barbaric  Philistines 
will  soon  give  us  all  enough  to  do !  They  menace  us 
again  in  the  west !" 

"I  will  gladly  serve  in  your  body-guard,  my  lord 
prince,"  answered  the  strong-armed  and  stout  young  sol 
dier  ;  "for  I  know  that,  young  as  thou  art,  thou  art  a 
master  in  war,  and  that  thy  legion  is  a  training  school 
at-arms!" 

"You  do  me  too  much  honor,  my  brave  Joab,"  an 
swered  the  ingenuous  prince,  modestly.  "  Thou  shouldst 
be  near  my  warlike  father  to  learn  the  art  of  doing  bat 
tle  against  one's  foes !" 

"  Think est  thou,  my  prince,  that  all  men  in  Israel  do 
not  know  thy  prowess  and  skill  at  the  weapons  of  war? 
No  man  has  forgotten  thy  victory  over  the  Philistine  hosts 
single-handed,  save  that  thy  armor-bearer  was  with  thee  !" 

"  Not  worth  thy  or  their  remembering,"  answered  the 
prince  smiling,  and  riding  forward,  adding,  "  Thou  hast 
no  horse,  Joab  ?" 

"  No,  my  lord  !  I  have  always  been  a-foot !"  he  an 
swered. 

"  Then  thou  shalt  henceforth  ride,  young  man,"  I  said 
to  him,  and  ordered  one  of  the  led  horses  to  be  brought 
up  which  I  forced  him  to  accept ;  and  mounting  him  he 
roie  near  us. 

The  Hebrews,  as  I  have  said,  have  not  many  horses. 
Their  armies  are  chiefly  foot-soldiers,  and  their  chief 
captains  fight  on  foot.  It  is  only  a  few  of  the  most  dis 
tinguished  commanders  and  officers  of  the  royal  guards 
who  ride  on  horses.  The  king  has  a  battalion  of  cha- 


THE  REBELLION"  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.       89 

riots  of  war  ;  but  in  this  hill-country  armies  of  infantry 
arc  more  easily  marched  from  point  to  point,  and  ma- 
noenvred  with  more  facility  in  battle.  With  us,  being  a 
nation  of  horsemen,  a  captain  on  foot  would  be  a  degrad 
ing  position  for  him ;  but  here  even  their  greatest  lead 
ers  have  led  their  hosts  dismounted.  Horses  are,  how 
ever,  coming  more  into  use,  arid  the  king  is  to  organize 
a  legion  of  six  thousand  mounted  men  ! 

As  we  crossed  the  beautiful  and  fertile  plain  towards 
the  hills,  I  turned  to  take  a  last  view  of  the  vale  of  Je 
richo  and  its  surrounding  scenery.  The  beams  of  the 
rising  sun  were  just  lighting  up  its  loftiest  towers.  The 
river  flowed  peacefully  past  far  distant  amid  gardens  and 
vineyards,  and  above  the  dark  mountains  of  Nebo  with 
the  loftier  shoulder  of  Pisgah,  where  Moses  died,  floated 
a  group  of  purple  clouds,  their  summits  gilded  by  the 
sun's  rays  into  a  blaze  of  glory.  How  peaceful  and  fair 
to  look  upon  was  all  the  scene !  The  valley  waved  with 
corn,  like  an  emerald  sea,  while  in  all  parts  of  it  amid 
groups  of  palms,  and  fig,  and  pomegranate  trees,  were 
visible  the  walls  of  the  pretty  white  villas  and  cottages 
of  the  dwellers  in  this  vale  of  repose.  Even  the  hill-sides 
and  rocks  and  cliffs  were  verdant  with  grape-vines  and 
hanging  with  gardens!  Every  foot  of  ground  was  cul 
tivated,  and  plenty  and  peace,  security  and  happiness 
seemed  to  make  their  abode  here.  Amid  all,  like  a  noble 
diadem  crowning  the  whole  landscape,  rose  the  battle 
ments  and  towers  of  the  city,  a  fair  and  imposing  finish 
to  the  captivating  picture. 

"How  charming  all  this  view!"  I  said  to  the  prince, 
who  had  regarded  my  admiration  of  it  with  natural  pride 
and  pleasure. 


90  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

"Yes,  my  lord,"  he  answered,  "it  is  a  fair  land  the 
God  of  our  fathers  gave  us  for  a  possession.  You  will  find 
innumerable  lovely  scenes  as  you  journey  through  it." 

His  words  recalled  to  my  thoughts  the  passage  of  the 
Jordan  and  the  fall  of  the  walls  of  Jericho  nearly  five 
hundred  years  before ;  and  I  said : — 

"  Who  that  gazes  on  this  fearful  scene  could  imagine 
the  river,  so  placidly  flowing  in  its  bed,  piled  on  heaps 
there  by  yonder  village  of  Adame,  and  roaring  backward 
on  its  northward  course  like  a  cataract !" 

"  Or,"  said  he,  taking  up  my  thought,  "who  can  con 
ceive  the  spectacle  this  valley  about  Jericho  presented, 
when  the  armies  of  the  Lord,  led  by  Joshua  and  mar 
shaled  by  the  shining  captain  of  the  hosts  of  heaven, 
marched  along  it  in  their  mighty  circuits  of  its  walls  !" 

"  What  a  sight  all  that  must  have  been  !"  I  exclaimed. 
"  How  the  sound  of  the  priests'  trumpets  and  the  shout 
ing  must  have  awakened  the  echoes  of  these  now  silent 
hills  !  How  little  the  present  seems  to  reveal  the  past !" 

"  It  would  seem  that  the  echoes  still  should  linger  of 
those  three  million  voices,"  he  said.  "  But  all  is  changed ! 
The  Jericho  of  to-day  is  another  city  altogether !  The 
first  was  utterly  destroyed  by  our  fathers  with  fire." 

"  So  I  have  read,"  I  answered,  "  in  your  sacred  books, 
and  also  in  the  chronicles  of  Caleb  the  Good." 

"  You  have  then  an  interest  in  knowing  something 
of  our  history,  my  lord  prince,"  he  remarked. 

"  I  am  deeply  interested.  I  have  with  me  copies  of 
your  sacred  books  and  other  parchments  which  I  shall 
carefully  peruse.  One  feature  in  your  history  I  cannot 
understand.  How  is  it,"  I  asked,  "that  your  nation, 
since  the  death  of  the  venerable  chief,  Joshua,  under 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRIXCE    ABSALOM.  91 

whom  it  nearly  completed  the  entire  conquest  of  this  land, 
has  had  no  other  great  captain  or  leader  ?  I  am  told  that 
your  royal  father  is  its  first  king,  and  yet  it  is  more  than 
four  hundred  years  since  the  death  of  the  conqueror  !" 

We  had  by  this  time  entered  a  defile,  the  sides  of 
which  hid  the  city  and  Jordan  with  its  valley  from  our 
sight.  The  royal  Hebrew  body-guard  now  marched  in 
the  van  with  two  hundred  of  my  own  guard,  the  caravan 
moved  along  in  the  centre,  and  my  main  legion  came 
last  directly  in  our  rear.  We  had,  therefore,  only 
quietly  to  keep  the  road,  and  had  leisure  to  converse, 
Joab  and  our  armor-bearers  being  the  only  listeners. 

The  prince  was  about  to  reply  to  my  inquiry,  when  a 
richly  dressed  Hebrew,  mounted  on  a  large  fine  mule, 
with  a  retinue  of  seven  or  eight  foreign  looking  servants, 
drew  near  by  a  road  leading  from  a  handsome  stone 
villa,  and  craved  permission  to  join  our  company  as  he 
was  traveling  to  Hebron.  It  was  granted  to  him,  and 
the  prince,  who  knew  him,  presented  him  to  me  as  one 
of  the  chief  architects  of  the  kingdom  going  to  assist  the 
king  in  planning  his  palace. 

"  Of  what  nation  are  those  slaves  ?"  I  asked,  struck 
with  the  dark  saturnine  countenance,  glittering  black  eyes 
and  small  stature  of  the  architect's  servants ;  for  Hebrews 
they  could  not  be. 

"These  swarthy  men,"  answered  Prince  Jonathan, 
"  are  descended  from  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the 
land!" 

"  I  supposed  they  were  all  exterminated,"  I  answered, 
again  regarding  the  eight  servitors,  being  much  struck 
with  the  looks  of  cunning  and  duplicity  which  seemed 
to  be  a  marked  characteristic  of  the  faces  of  all  of  them ; 


92  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;  OR, 

looking  like  persons  not  to  be  fully  trusted  and  to  be 
kept  in  subjection  alone  by  fear. 

"  They  are  a  singular  exception,"  answered  the  prince. 
"  Their  history  is  a  remarkable  .one.  They  are  Gibeon- 
ites !  Their  fathers  dwelt  in  a  small  kingdom  not  far 
west  from  where  Joshua  crossed  the  Jordan.  Hearing 
of  the  fall  of  Jericho  and  the  successive  conquests  of  the 
Hebrews,  this  wily  people,  with  others  whom  they  pre 
vailed  upon  to  unite  with  them,  hit  upon  a  stratagem  to 
save  their  lives,  if  not  their  territories.  They  selected 
ambassadors  whom  they  clothed  in  tattered  garments 
and  worn  out  sandals,  and  gave  old  sacks  for  their  pro 
visions,  and  disguised  them  altogether  as  travelers,  who 
have  been  many  weeks  on  a  weary  march  from  a  dis 
tant  land ! 

"Presenting  themselves  before  Joshua,  they  told  him 
how  they  came  from  a  far  country,  having  heard  of  the 
power  and  glory  of  his  people,  and  desired  on  the  part 
of  their  king  to  make  a  treaty  of  friendship  with  him. 
They,  moreover,  said  that  their  clothes  and  sandals  were 
new  when  they  started  from  home,  and  otherwise  so  de 
ceived  him,  that  believing  they  were  a  people  dwelling 
far  beyond  the  land  which  he  was  commanded  by  his  God 
to  take  possession  of,  he  entered  into  covenant  with  them 
of  peace  and  friendship.  Having  succeeded  in  their  de 
ceitful  mission,  these  ambassadors  (who  dwelt  not  two  full 
days'  march  from  the  Jordan)  returned  home.  When  at 
length  Joshua,  extending  his  conquest  and  destroying  all 
the  people  of  the  land  with  the  sword  as  he  went,  came 
to  their  country  and  recognized  the  men,  and  knew  that 
they  were  Canaanites  of  the  land  whom  it  was  his  duty 
to  destroy,  he  was  justly  very  angry  at  the  deception 


THE    REBELL  ON    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  98 

they  had  practiced  upon  him ;  but  having  entered  into  a 
solemn  league  of  friendship  with  them,  he  felt  he  could 
not  now  exterminate  them.  They  humbly  plead,  that, 
in  order  to  save  their  lives  they  had  been  compelled  to 
adopt  the  wily  course  which  they  had  done. 

"  Thereupon  Joshua,  calling  the  chief  men  of  the 
Gibeonitcs  together,  said  to  them  all, 

tk  i  I  have  sworn  and  will  truly  keep  my  oath,  to  be 
at  peace  with  you  so  far  as  not  to  take  your  lives  !  But 
from  this  day  your  whole  people  shall  become  hewers  of 
wood  and  drawers  of  water  to  the  Hebrews  !' 

"  Thus  were  they  condemned  to  perpetual  servitude," 
added  the  prince,  "  and  here  you  behold  after  four  hun 
dred  years  their  descendants,  servants  among  us  !" 

I  regarded  these  slaves  with  no  little  interest,  your 
majesty,  after  hearing  their  history;  and  I  can  not  but  ex 
press  my  wonder  at  seeing  how  they  have  inherited  looks 
of  duplicity,  a  trait  which  is  evidently  still  their  birthright, 
judging  from  their  treacherous-looking  countenances. 

Seeking  now,  as  WTC  rode  on,  further  information  from 
the  intelligent  young  prince  about  the  past  of  his  people, 
he  said, 

"You  desire  to  know  how  we  were  governed  after  our 
great  chieftain,  Joshua,  died !  First  by  a  Supreme  Senate 
of  seventy  elders  with  whom  he  left  his  authority;  but 
after  about  fifty  years  of  this  rule,  the  armies,  dissatisfied 
with  the  pacific  government  of  the  elders,  elected  their 
own  chief,  and  gave  him  absolute  authority  to  rule  and 
judge  them.  These  Judges  were  often  military  dicta 
tors,  and  their  power  at  length  became  as  absolute  as  that 
of  crowned  princes.  There  was  even  a  heroic  female 
Deborah  in  the  line  of  our  Judges.  From  Othniel  the 


94  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

first  Judge  twelve  Judges  have  reigned,  with  intervals  of 
disaster  and  of  submission  often  to  our  foes,  down  to  the 
present  generation.  The  last  Judge  was  the  prophet 
Samuel  now  living  at  Ramah,  an  aged  Seer  and  servant 
of  God !" 

"  Will  you  explain  to  me,  my  prince,"  I  said,  "how  a 
Judge  of  Israel  with  absolute  power,  and  a  king  can  both 
exist  in  the  land  at  the  same  time  ?" 

"  Samuel  the  Seer  continued  to  govern  our  nation  with 
almost  imperial  authority,"  he  kindly  answered  ;  "  as  a 
prophet,  he  held  over  the  people  undisputed  sway  and 
commanding  influence.  His  talents,  virtues,  wisdom, 
piety,  and  firmness,  as  well  as  his  great  experience  in 
governing,  gave  them  unlimited  confidence  in  him.  But, 
at  length,  through  the  weight  of  years,  he  transferred 
his  powers  to  his  twro  sons,  dividing  his  authority  between 
them.  These  men  were  deficient  in  the  great  qualities 
of  their  father;  and,  unable  to  bear  longer  their  in 
efficient  rule,  which  was  felt  more  keenly  inasmuch  as 
we  were  at  war  with  the  Philistines,  and  required  an 
energetic  head,  they  waited  on  the  prophet  in  a  great 
body,  and  demanded  a  king  to  be  placed  over  them ! 
The  prophet  at  first  refused  to  hear  them,  ( for  he  was 
still  the  actual  statesman  and  counselor  of  the  nation, 
guiding  his  weak  sons  in  their  office  by  his  experience 
and  wisdom,)  but  at  length  yielded  to  their  importunities, 
and  by  the  command  of  God  anointed  my  father,  then  a 
young  man,  king.  He  was,  at  the  time  this  high  honor 
befel  him,  dwelling  among  the  mountains  of  his  nativity, 
and  wholly  unsuspecting  the  distinction  to  be  conferred 
upon  him.  The  people,  when  they  saw  him,  confirmed 
by  acclamation  his  choice ;  for  he  was  of  lofty  stature,. 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  H5 

with  a  singularly  commanding  person,  and  of  undoubted 
courage,  having  shown  proofs  of  his  daring  and  warlike 
spirit  in  minor  conflicts  with  parties  of  the  enemy  in  the 
passes  of  his  native  hills.  Not  long  after  this,  the  King 
of  Ammon  beyond  Jordan  invaded  our  land,  and  the  new 
king,  promptly  putting  himself  at  the  head  of  the  Hebrew 
soldiers,  routed  the  enemy  with  great  slaughter.  My 
father  was  then  crowned  with  great  rejoicings,  and  pre 
pared  to  consolidate  his  throne.  But  the  Philistines,  u 
warlike  and  fierce  people  of  the  west,  whose  country  lies 
on  the  borders  of  the  Great  Sea,  and  who  have  not  ceased 
since  the  days  of  Joshua  to  dispute  our  possession  of 
this  land  of  our  fathers,  declared  war  against  the  newly- 
crowned  monarch.  The  Hebrews,  proud  of  having  a 
king  like  other  nations  to  lead  them  forth  to  battle,  ral 
lied  in  great  numbers  and  full  of  hope  around  the  royal 
standard.  These  wars  continued  for  many  years,  with 
occasional  intervals  of  truce ;  and  in  these  my  father 
strove  to  strengthen  his  kingdom,  adorn  its  cities,  im 
prove  his  army,  and  elevate  the  people.  His  reign  was 
for  many  years  happy  and  glorious,  and  his  prosperous 
wars  added  distinction  to  his  name.  Moderation  and 
clemency  marked  his  treatment  to  his  enemies,  and 
resentment  and  revenge  were  then  strangers  to  his 
bosom." 

Here  the  prince  sighed  and  looked  sad  and  thoughtful, 
Perceiving  that  something  painful  was  upon  his  mind,  I 
rode  on  in  silence ;  for  I  recollected  what  had  been  told 
me  at  Jericho  of  the  gloom  which  had  settled  upon  the 
mind  of  King  Saul ;  and  that  from  being  a  wise  and 
magnanimous  prince,  he  had  become  cruel,  unjust,  and 
revengeful,  and  sonant  even  the  lives  of  his  best  friends, 

O  7  C5 


96  THE   TIIHONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

The  royal  youth  would  no  doubt  have  resumed  the 
subject  in  a  few  moments,  so  abruptly  broken  off,  but  at 
this  instant  a  man  came  bounding  with  the  speed  of 
a  wolf  down  a  narrow  defile  between  two  hills,  past 
which  our  road  wound.  He  came  in  sight  of  us  so  sud 
denly,  that  he  could  not  check  the  impetus  with  which  he 
was  running  soon  enough  to  escape  our  observation,  as 
he  quickly  tried  to  do.  No  sooner,  as  he  turned  to  fly, 
did  the  eyes  of  Joab  fasten  upon  him  than  he  rode  to 
wards  him,  and  seizing  him  by  the  hair,  took  him  cap 
tive. 

"  Who  art  thou,  with  blood  upon  thy  hand  ?"  demanded 
the  prince,  before  whom  his  captor  led  him. 

"  I  am  a  herdsman,  and  have  just  slain  a  wolf  which 
attacked  my  flock,"  answered  the  man,  pale  as  death. 

"  Why  then  fly  as  if  thou  hadst  murdered  a  man?"  de 
manded  Joab,  still  holding  him  by  the  collar  of  his  tunic. 

The  man  looked  at  a  loss  to  reply,  and  held  down  his 
head. 

"My  prince,"  said  the  rich  Hebrew  architect,  "he  is 
evidently  a  murderer  flying  to  one  of  the  cities  of  refuge 
for  shelter  from  vengeance  !  See  there  come  pursuers 
down  the  dell  in  full  cry  after  him !" 

At  this  the  man  made  a  sudden  dive  beneath  the  horse 
on  which  Joab  was  mounted,  and  so  successfully  as  to 
leave  his  rent  tunic  in  his  hand,  and  darting  across  the 
road  he  disappeared  in  a  dark  forest  of  oaks  ere  his 
flight  could  be  arrested.  When  his  pursuers  came  up, 
they  stated  that  he  had,  three  hours  before,  in  a  village 
twelve  miles  to  the  south,  slain  a  shepherd,  his  fellow  and 
brother  of  the  speaker,  and  now  was  seeking  refuge  pro 
bably  at  Sichem,  a  chosen  city  farther  north. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       97 

When  these  angry  men  had  gone  forward  again  on 
their  path  of  vengeance,  and  we  had  resumed  our  pro 
gress  thus  momentarily  interrupted,  I  inquired  of  the 
prince  the  meaning  of  a  city  of  refuge  for  murderers  ! 

"I  will  gladly  answer  your  inquiry,"  he  replied  cour 
teously.  "  In  the  division  of  this  land  by  Joshua  to  our 
fathers  he  appointed,  by  the  command  of  the  merciful 
God,  several  places  as  '  cities  of  refuge,'  so  that  if  any 
man  slew  another  by  accident  he  might  fly  thither  from 
vengeance.  This  privilege  was  not  to  shield  the  mur 
derer,  but  to  protect  the  innocent ;  for  a  man  who  un 
wittingly  slew  his  fellow,  not  intending  it,  might  be  killed 
therefor  by  the  by-standers  who  knew  not  the  true  facts, 
and  so  unjustly  perish.  '  Therefore,'  said  Joshua, 
'  whosoever  killeth  any  person  unwittingly,  or  unawares, 
may  fly  thither  for  refuge  from  the  avenger  of  blood !' 
For  instance,  my  lord  prince,  this  man,  who  is  now 
bounding  across  the  country  on  his  way  to  a  city  of  re 
fuge,  may  have  slain  his  victim  unwittingly ;  but  the 
dead  man's  friends  pursue  with  vengeance,  as  you  have 
seen,  to  slay  him,  not  giving  him  opportunity,  if  they 
should  overtake  him,  to  show  his  innocence  of  evil  inten 
tion.  Now,  if  he  reaches  the  gate  of  the  city  of  Sichem, 
and  can  but  lay  his  hand  upon  the  gate-post,  he  is  safe ; 
nay,  the  city  extends  its  protection,  for  a  bow-shot  beyond 
its  gates  all  around,  to  the  flying  man-slayer  !  Stand 
ing  in  the  gate  he  asks  shelter  and  protection  from  the 
avenger  of  blood.  The  elders  of  the  city  are  called  by 
the  chief  captain,  and  in  their  ears  the  fugitive  makes 
known  the  circumstances  of  the  crime  for  which  he  flies, 
declaring  the  deed  to  have  been  accidental.  The  elders 
then  appoint  a  certain  officer  of  the  city  to  receive  him, 
7 


98  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

who  conducts  him  to  a  safe  abode  in  the  heart  of  the 
city,  where  he  is  to  dwell  until  the  death  of  the  High 
Priest  of  the  land !  If  the  pursuers  come  to  the  gate 
and  demand  him,  they  ask  in  vain.  If  they  can  prove, 
however,  before  the  Senate  and  Judges  that  the  slaying 
was  malicious,  then  the  murderer  is  given  up  to  the  exe 
cutioner  of  the  land  and  stoned  to  death." 

"  Why  is  the  unwitting  slayer  released  on  the  death 
of  the  great  High  Priest?"  I  asked. 

"  So  reads  the  law,"  he  answered,  "that  in  such  an 
event  the  slayer  shall  peaceably  return  to  his  own  city 
and  home ;  and  whosoever  then  slays  him  shall  be  put 
to  death !  There  is  a  tradition  that  the  death  of  the 
High  Priest  is  the  type  of  the  death  of  a  divine  High 
Priest,  Prince  and  Son  of  God,  who  is  to  come  out  from 
heaven  in  the  future  ages,  and  die  for  all  who  have  done 
evil,  in  order  to  release  them  from  their  guilt !  and  that 
this  pardoning  of  murderers  in  the  cities  of  refuge  at  the 
death  of  the  High  Priest  is  to  keep  before  the  minds 
of  the  nation  the  divine  Priest  to  be  sacrificed,  and  die 
for  the  whole  people  !  '  for,'  says  the  tradition,  *  we  are  all 
guilty  before  the  holy  Lord  God.'  All  this  is  obscure, 
my  lord  of  Assur ;  but  if  you  converse  with  the  Seer, 
Samuel,  at  Ramah,  he  may  be  able  to  make  it  clearer  to 
you ;  for  it  is  his  privilege  and  office  to  know  the  myste 
ries  of  God  and  reveal  the  future  !  We  can  pass  through 
Ramah  to  his  abode  by  deviating  somewhat  from  our 
direct  route  to  Hebron,  and  if  you  wish  to  see  the  vener 
able  prophet  and  friend  of  God,  while  your  caravan  pro 
ceeds  direct  to  Hebron,  I  will  go  on  with  you  with  my 
body-guard.  Near  Ramah  is  Bethel,  where  my  royal 
mother  now  resides,  whom  I  would  gladly  pay  my  respect 
ful  duty  to,  as  I  have  not  seen  her  for  many  weeks,  having 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  99 

been  in  the  interval  with  my  father  at  Gibeah,  at  Miz- 
pah,  and  at  Hebron,  at  all  of  which  places  he  has  either 
winter  or  summer  abodes  which  he  is  adorning  and  en 
larging  ;  for  our  land  has  hitherto  been  without  kingly 
residences.  Hebron,  however,  will  ultimately  become 
the  king's  capital,  as  my  father  regards  it  with  more 
favor  than  any  other  of  the  cities  of  his  habitation." 

In  such  conversation,  your  majesty,  we  beguiled  our 
way,  which  gradually  wound  in  among  lofty  precipices, 
and  led  over  bold  hills,  most  of  which  were  crowned 
with  walled  villages  or  castles ;  while  the  prospect  from 
their  summits  was  full  of  interest  to  one  coming  from  a 
land  so  little  diversified  as  Assyria,  about  Nineveh. 
Hills,  rocks,  dells,  valleys,  in  romantic  confusion,  all 
teeming  with  life,  and  rich  with  culture,  met  the  view. 
The  names  of  several  places  were  made  known  to  me  by 
the  Hebrew  architect ;  whom  I  found  a  person  of  intelli 
gence. 

At  one  of  the  castles  which  we  came  to,  the  captain 
thereof  appeared  at  the  gate  and  offered  us  hospitality ;  but 
we  declined  the  courtesy,  prefering  to  dine  in  our  own  tent 
on  the  road.  He,  however,  detained  the  prince  two  hours 
on  some  affairs,  while  I  rode  slowly  forward,  attended 
by  Joab  the  young  soldier  of  the  Jordan.  This  young 
man  I  found  had  an  imperious  will,  and  was  as  rude  in 
speech  as  brave  in  heart.  He  seemed  to  regard  me, 
.however,  with  partiality,  and  to  be  ready  to  communi 
cate  any  information  in  his  gift.  As  we  rode  on  he  said, 

"  I  see  that  thoti  thinkest  highly  of  the  king's  son, 
Prince  Jonathan  !  Thou  mayest,  lord  of  Asshur.  Young 
and  fair  as  he  appears,  he  has  a  lion's  heart.  His  eyes, 
which  seem  as  soft  as  a  woman's,  can  blaze  with  the  light 


100  THE   THKOXE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

of  battle !  To  see  him  in  his  blue-broidered  tunic  and 
golden  armor,  with  the  plume  in  his  silken  bonnet,  one 
would  fancy  he  were  only  a  fair-day  prince,  who  loved 
rather  to  hear  the  voices  of  singing  women  than  the 
trumpet-cry  of  war  !" 

"  What  has  he  achieved  in  arms,  my  friend  ?"  I  asked, 
seeing  that  he  wished  to  talk  about  his  prince. 

"  I  will  give  thee,  my  lord,  one  instance  of  our  royal 
prince's  brave  deeds.  When  the  last  foray  of  the  Phil 
istines  was  made  into  our  land,  the  king  went  out  to 
meet  them,  and  laid  siege  to  a  garrison  where  they  were 
fortified.  They  could  not,  however,  be  dislodged  for 
want  of  proper  war  engines  and  arms.  Weary  of  the 
delay,  the  young  prince  called  his  armor-bearer,  the 
bearded  man  whom  you  see  riding  there  by  that  man- 
at-arms,  behind  us,  and  said,  '  Come,  let  us  go  and  see 
these  Philistines !  Peradventure  we  may  find  a  weak 
point  where  they  may  be  attacked  !'  So  going  secretly 
out  of  the  camp  at  the  close  of  the  day,  they  descended 
through  a  defile,  and  came  before  the  garrison !  Finding 
that  there  was  no  way  by  which  the  army  of  the  king, 
his  father,  could  get  up  to  it,  but  only  here  and  there 
a  place  where  one  man  could  put  his  foot,  he  called  out 
aloud  to  the  Philistines  and  said, 

"  Come  forth  and  let  us  fight  our  battles  in  open  field! 
In  the  name  of  the  Lord  we  will  destroy  your  hosts !" 

Then  the  Philistine  captain,  coming  to  the  top  of  the 
rock,  called  to  Prince  Jonathan  to  come  up  and  take  the 
garrison,  as  he  seemed  so  bold ! 

"  Such  a  challenge  to  the  son  of  the  king  shall  not  be 
refused  while  I  have  a  sword,  and  a  hand  to  wield  it," 
cried  the  prince,  in  a  sort  of  divine  fury ;  and  calling  to 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      101 

his  armor-bearer  to  follow  him,  ho  COTi-mei;-ced  climbing 
the  rocky  sides  of  the  garrison.  In  a  few  moments  the 
daring  young  soldier,  closely  followed  by  his  arnioi- 
bearer,  drew  himself  over  the  verge,  and  leaped,  sword 
in  hand,  into  the  very  midst  of  his  foes  !  He  came  so 
suddenly  upon  them,  and  his  aspect  was  so  terrible,  and 
he  threw  himself  upon  them  with  such  vengeance,  the 
while  uttering  his  battle-cry,  that  those  who  resisted 
were  cut  down,  and  others,  flying,  alarmed  the  garrison, 
and  created  a  panic  throughout  the  whole  Philistine 
hosts  ;  for  it  was  believed  from  the  noise  of  fighting  and 
the  ringing  blows  of  steel  on  iron  armor,  that  the  whole 
of  the  king's  army  had  scaled  the  cliff  and  were  attack 
ing  them  !  The  prince  alone  slew  twenty  men  in  the 
space  of  a  few  yards  before  him,  while  his  armor-bearer 
keeping  close  to  him,  warded  off  the  blows  of  those  who 
had  courage  to  oppose  him.  It  being  dark,  the  enemy 
could  not  distinguish  friend  from  foe,  and,  in  the  con 
fusion,  parties  attacked  each  other.  Thus  the  dismay 
each  instant  grew,  until  the  whole  army  in  and  beyond 
the  garrison  commenced  to  fly  along  the  passes  of  the 
mountains,  pursued  by  the  prince  and  his  armor-bearer, 
slaying  as  they  went,  and  uttering  their  fierce  battle 
shouts.  The  noise  of  the  conflict  reached  the  ears  of  the 
king,  his  father,  in  his  tent ;  and  it  was  told  him  the  Phil 
istines  were  attacked,  by  whom  they  knew  not !  He 
soon  ascertained  that  Jonathan  and  his  armor-bearer 
were  missing  from  the  camp.  He  then  rose  up,  he  and 
his  army,  and  followed  in  pursuit,  and  the  flight  and  chase 
lasted  till  the  close  of  the  next  day,  when  weary  with 
slaughter  and  with  pursuing,  the  king  and  his  army  halted 
and  encamped  for  the  night,  laden  with  spoils !  This 


102  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR 

daring  exploit  of  the-  prince,  as  well  as  his  piety  and  vir 
tue,  .  li-.if-  :-i.;lnrvil  !::m,  my  lord,  to  all  the  people,  as 
you  may  well  believe." 

While  Joab  was  speaking,  Prince.  Jonathan  came  riding 
up  and  rejoined  me.  I  regarded  him  now  with  deeper 
interest.  What  courage  and  noble  qualities  lay  hidden 
under  that  calm,  pleasant  countenance,  which  was  almost 
effeminate  in  its  fairness,  added  to  the  soft,  shining 
tresses  which  fell  in  waves  upon  his  shoulders ! 

We  now  rode  on,  but  at  our  ease,  to  keep  within  the 
slow  traveling  pace  of  the  caravan.  At  night  we  en 
camped  in  a  vale  by  a  well,  and  the  next  day  continued 
our  advance  amid  agreeable  scenes,  while  on  all  sides  the 
density  of  the  population  and  the  great  number  of  villages 
surprised  me.  For  miles,  the  valleys  are  like  a  continu 
ous  village ;  while  on  the  rocks  and  among  cliffs,  almost 
inaccessible,  are  perched  habitations,  gardens,  and  vine 
yards  ;  kids,  goats  and  sheep  seem  to  cover  every  pro 
jection  of  the  hills  in  great  numbers,  and  herds  of  fat 
cattle  roam  the  green  and  secluded  glens. 

I  have  not  spoken  of  the  beauty  of  the  females  of  this 
favored  land.  They  are  seen  everywhere  moving  about 
without  restraint,  sharing,  with  affectionate  interest,  in 
all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  the  community ;  kind, 
affable,  cheerful,  and  intelligent,  they  are  worthy  to  be 
the  daughters  and  wives  of  a  manly  and  truly  domestic 
race  like  the  Hebrews.  Concubinage  or  duality  of  wives 
is  unknown  among  this  virtuous  people.  The  females, 
therefore,  retain  a  certain  dignity  of  aspect  and  a  feeling 
of  self-respect  which  is  not  observable  in  the  bearing  of 
the  ladies  of  Assyria.  Here  woman  is  the  companion 
of  man :  as  his  wife,  often  his  judicious  counselor  ID 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      103 

difficult  and  doubtful  cases,  and  the  sympathizer  of  his 
sorrows ;  his  tender  nurse  in  sickness,  his  truest,  best, 
most  unselfish,  and  most  faithful  friend  always. 

In  personal  appearance  they  are  not  tall,  but  their 
forms  are  the  impersonation  of  grace,  both  of  outline 
and  motion.  They  have  raven  black  hair,  very  abund 
ant,  and  long,  and  beautifully  glossy,  in  which  they  take 
great  pride  as  woman's  most  lovely  adornment  and  her 
"crown  of  glory,"  as  one  of  our  poets  has  it,  braiding 
it  in  shining  bands,  and  adorning  it  with  precious  gems 
and  dust  of  gold.  Large  and  brilliantly  brown  eyes  they 
have,  warmed  by  feeling  and  ardent  with  animation,  their 
dangerous  fire  tempered  by  long,  sable  eyelashes  which, 
when  they  drop  the  eyelids,  rest  in  a  curved  fringe  upon 
the  cheek.  Their  power  of  expression  surpasses  all  that 
I  ever  beheld  in  woman's  eyes ;  and  a  sure  captive  will 
the  unwary  youth  become  who  suffers  himself  long  to 
gaze  into  their  fascinating  depths. 

The  personal  beauty  of  the  Hebrew  women  is  universal 
in  their  years  of  maidenhood  and  early  wifehood.  What, 
with  their  massy  and  richly-bound  tresses,  their  eyes  of 
fire,  their  lips  more  brilliant  than  the  hue  of  the  pome 
granate,  the  soft,  olive  tone  of  their  complexions,  the  ga 
zelle-like  grace  of  their  movements,  the  exquisite  shape 
of  their  heads,  and  delicate  smallness  of  their  hands  and 
high-arched  feet,  the  singularly  attractive  melody  of 
their  voices  when  they  speak  in  the  low,  musical  tones 
peculiar  to  them ;  all  these  present  a  charming  combina 
tion  of  attractions  that  will  convince  your  majesty  that  I 
at  least  have  a  full  appreciation  of  the  extraordinary 
loveliness  of  the  gentler  Hebrews.  Add  to  this  their 
cheerful  dispositions,  their  kind  and  obliging  manners, 


104  THE    TTLKOXE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

and  the  intelligence  with  which  they  are  gifted,  and  one 
cannot  withhold  from  them  that  praise  and  commendation 
which  is  so  deservedly  their  merit. 

In  the  national  history  of  the  Hebrews,  there  stand  out 
prominently  several  of  the  sex  who  have  reflected  honor 
upon  the  whole  people  by  deeds  of  heroism  performed 
for  their  country,  or  else  by  the  loveliest  exhibitions  of 
faithfulness  and  truth,  or  by  sacred  devotion  to  the  will 
of  parents,  or  of  obedience  to  the  gods.  Of  these  are 
Deborah,  the  prophetess,  and  warrior,  and  Judge,  all  in 
her  own  person ;  Ruth,  a  foreigner  by  birth  indeed,  but 
adopted  into  the  Hebrew  nation,  and  of  whom  their  poets 
^ove  to  sing  the  gentle  praises ;  and  a  young  and  beautiful 
daughter  of  a  great  warrior,  Jeptha,  who  sacrificed  her, 
herself  consenting,  to  the  gods,  (or  rather  to  his  'God,'  as 
I  shall  say  when  writing  of  these  people,)  in  fufillment  of 
a  vow  on  the  occasion  of  a  great  victory ;  and  lael  or 
Jael,  allied  by  blood  to  the  priestly  line  of  Israel,  who 
slew  with  her  own  hand  Sisera,  the  powerful  and  cruel 
general  of  her  nation's  foe,  and  thereby  delivered  her 
country  from  servitude. 

These  noble  women  are  all  subjects  for  the  poet's  harp, 
and  are  household  names  in  the  land.  It  is  a  peculiar 
feature  of  the  Hebrew  character  that  the  men  honor  the 
female  sex  even  above  their  own ;  concede  to  it  the  highest 
places  and  the  first  acts  of  courtesy  in  mixed  assemblies. 
This  consideration  in  itself  elevates  woman,  and  renders 
her  worthy  of  the  homage  and  regard  paid  to  her. 

How  different  all  this  from  woman  in  the  East,  your 
majesty,  where  the  sex  is  regarded  as  but  so  many  beau 
tiful  toys  created  for  our  luxury  and  pride,  and  far  be 
neath  in  intellect  a  husband  and  a  father !  Only  hero 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  105 

and  there,  as  in  the  noble  exceptions  of  Semiramis,  Sar- 
danapala,  and  Arsephaxa,  all  powerful  and  virtuous 
queens  of  Assyria,  does  woman  in  the  East  assert  her 
true  rank  by  nature,  which,  doubtless,  is  to  be  the  com 
panion  and  friend  and  prudent  counselor  of  man,  both 
as  kings  and  subjects. 

I  see  your  majesty  smile  at  my  eulogy  of  the  sex,  and 
at  my  admiration  of  the  Hebrew  females.  If  Egypt's 
fair  daughter,  to  whom  I  am  sent  to  ask  her  hand  for 
your  majesty,  be  half  as  fair  as  Adora,  the  beautiful 
daughter  of  the  chief  senator  of  Jericho,  your  majesty 
will  have  a  bright  jewel  to  wear  in  your  coronet.  If  I 
had  not  hastened  from  the  splendor  of  her  eyes  I  should 
have  been  consumed  by  them  to  ashes. 

But  to  resume  the  narrative  of  my  journey  hither. 
At  the  close  of  the  second  day's  travel  we  came  to  where 
two  roads  met.  One  of  these  took  a  direction  south 
wardly,  but  the  other  led  westward  towards  Ramah,  the 
abode  of  the  Seer,  and  so  on,  to  the  shores  of  the  Great 
Sea,  which  the  prince  informed  me  was  visible  from  a 
mountain  not  far  from  the  place  where  the  prophet  dwelt. 

As  it  was  my  desire  to  see  this  holy  and  venerable 
person,  and  present  to  him  your  message  and  signet-ring, 
I  gave  the  caravan  orders  to  continue  on  the  way  south 
ward,  under  the  charge  of  my  captain,  Nacherib,  and, 
encamping  before  Hebron,  await  my  coming.  Retaining 
only  my  personal  guard  of  one  hundred  nobles,  the  prince 
having  also  kept  one  hundred  of  his  men-at-arms,  sending 
the  residue  under  Joab  with  my  caravan  as  an  escort 
through  the  country,  we  were  about  to  go  forward  towards 
Ramah,  when  Nacherib,  who  had  just  put  the  caravan  in 
motion  on  its  road,  came  riding  up  as  if  with  a  message. 


106  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

"Your  highness,"  he  said,  "  I  had  best  halt  the  whole 
body  !  I  see  a  large  force  winding  its  way  in  this  direc 
tion  through  the  valley  below  us,  and  if  we  proceed  we 
shall  meet  them !" 

The  prince  and  I  immediately  turned  our  horses'  heads, 
and  rode  one  side  to  a  slight  elevation  from  which  the 
southern  road  was  visible  for  a  league.  Half  that  dis 
tance  off  I  saw  advancing  a  long  train  of  camels  and 
laden  mules  preceded  by  a  party  of  horsemen  carrying 
slender  lances. 

"  It  is  a  caravan,  doubtless  that  from  the  country  of 
Sheba,  which  is  expected  yearly  about  this  time  on  its 
way  to  Syrian  Damascus,"  said  the  prince,  after  a  mo 
ment's  scrutiny.  "  But  let  us  spur  forward  and  ascer 
tain  !" 

Followed  by  a  portion  of  my  hundred  horsemen,  as  a 
protection  in  case  of  surprise,  I  rode  rapidly  forward 
with  the  prince,  and  we  soon  came  so  near  that  the  armed 
troop  in  its  van  stopped  and  drew  up  in  line  of  battle. 
I  then  halted  my  guard  and  Prince  Jonathan  rode  for 
ward  alone.  No  sooner  was  he  perceived  by  the  strangers, 
than  their  chief,  a  dark  warrior  of  gigantic  stature  clad 
in  chain-mail,  detached  himself  from  the  main  body  of 
his  command  and  came  galloping  into  the  open  space  on 
a  coal-black  charger  of  magnificent  size,  superbly  capari 
soned.  He  rode  as  if  man  and  horse  were  but  one  ani 
mal,  moved  by  one  will  and  one  power.  It  was  a  superb 
display  of  barbaric  horsemanship,  and  as  he  rode  he  held 
his  long  lance  in  rest,  but  not  leveled  in  an  attitude  of 
hostility,  but  pointing  skyward  above  his  head.  He  was 
followed  at  a  little  distance  by  one  who  bore  his  shield 
and  sword. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      107 

I  at  once  rode  to  the  side  of  the  prince,  who  said  to 
me : — 

"  I  am  rio'lit.     It  is  the  annual  southern  caravan  from 

o 

the  kingdom  of  Sheba,  which  lies  by  the  south  sea,  and 
destined  for  Syria.  I  know  well  their  faces  and  style 
of  armor,  and  have  before  seen  this  chief  about  two 
years  ago  !" 

"Peace  and  amity,"  cried  the  prince,  as  he  came  up 
within  a  few  paces  of  the  warrior. 

"  Even  so  !  We  are  for  peace  and  amity,  this  being  a 
caravan  of  merchants,  my  lord,"  answered  the  chief. 

"  You  are  welcome  to  pass  through  our  land,  sir  cap 
tain  ;  for  we  also  profit  by  your  merchandize.  Didst 
thou  stop  before  Hebron?" 

"  But  one  day,  my  lord,  for  rumor  came  suddenly  that 
the  Philistines  had  moved  with  a  great  army  from  their 
fastnesses,  and  were  to  march  upon  Hebron.  So  we  hur 
ried  on  to  be  out  of  reach  of  foes,  which  make  no  distinc 
tion,  and  plunder  where  there  are  treasures.  Thou  seest 
I  have  but  four  hundred  armed  men  with  me,  enough 
for  security  against  the  bands  of  the  men  of  Esau  in  the 
deserts,  but  not  to  withstand  battles  with  hosts  harnessed 
for  war !" 

" Thou  hast  done  well  to  hasten  thy  march, "said  the 
prince.  "Pass  on  thy  way  in  peace!"  "This  is  indeed 
news,"  he  continued,  turning  to  me!  "So this  armament 
so  long  threatened  by  our  foes  is  come  to  a  head,  and 
Hebron  is  menaced  by  our  implacable  scourge !  For 
your  sake  I  am  grieved,  as  I  fear  the  enemy  will  possess 
themselves  of  the  passes  south,  and  delay  your  march  to 
wards  Egypt." 

"In  that  case,"  I  answered,  "  I  will  not  remain  idly 


108  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

waiting  a  passage  to  be  opened  by  your  arms,  or  their 
pleasure,  but  join  in  the  war  with  you  with  my  thousand 
trained  Assyrians,  and  so  bring  it  to  an  end  the  sooner, 
that  I  may  peaceably  proceed  on  my  mission  !" 

"  These  tidings,"  continued  the  prince  thoughtfully, 
"  should  take  me  at  once  to  Hebron.  But  the  king  in 
person  is  enough  there !  I  will  assemble  our  armies  in 
this  quarter,  and  send  them  to  my  father.  I  still  will 
go  on  to  Ramah !  There  are  several  garrisons  on  the 
way,  and  also  there,  the  soldiers  of  which  I  must  despatch 
to  the  south.  Besides  I  would,  in  this  new  peril,  ask  of 
the  man  of  God  what  will  befal  in  this  war !  My  poor 
father  used  to  consult  him  !  But  now  there  is  no  inter 
course  between  them !  My  father  offended  him  by  sac 
rificing,  without  waiting  for  the  prophet  whose  sacred 
right  it  was  alone,  and  I  fear  displeased  God,  also ;  for 
he  seems,  alas !  to  have  been,since  then, under  a  dark  cloud 
of  divine  judgment !  as  painful  as  it  is  for  a  son.  to  say 
this,  I  can  not  withhold  the  truth  from  you.  My  father 
was  on  the  eve  of  an  engagement,  and  wished  to  offer  the 
usual  sacrifices  to  propitiate  the  God  of  battles,  and  win 
a  blessing  upon  his  arms  !  He  waited  until  the  time  of 
the  evening  oblation,  and  not  seeing  the  prophet  appear, 
seized  the  sacrificial  knife  in  his  impatience,  and  with 
his  own  hand  slew  the  victim  !  He  lost  the  battle  !  Thus 
heaven  frowned  upon  him  for  the  act,  and  the  prophet 
in  displeasure  denounced  his  unlawful  proceeding  as  high 
impiety,  and  declared  to  him  in  the  most  solemn  lan 
guage,  that  henceforth  he  should  not  prosper  in  his  reign, 
and  that  the  day  was  at  hand  when  his  crown  and  scep 
tre  should  be  taken  from  him  and  given  to  another, 
chosen  of  God !  Since  then  the  prophet,  who  once  loved 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      109 

and  honored  my  father,  and  who  privately  consecrated 
him  at  his  election,  himself,  as  King  of  Israel,  and  again 
consecrated  him  at  his  coronation  before  all  the  people, 
has  turned  his  face  from  him,  nor  spoken  with  him  either 
words  of  anger  or  of  kindness.  This  displeasure  has  had 
its  natural  effect  upon  my  father,  and  filled  his  soul  with 
that  gloom  and  depression,  which,  most  noble  prince 
Arbaces,  you  will  not  fail  to  observe  when  you  come  into 
his  presence  !" 

During  this  revelation  of  the  king's  infirmities,  we 
•were  slowly  riding  back  again  to  the  place  where  the  two 
roads  met,  the  caravan  of  the  strangers  from  the  south 
being  once  more  in  motion,  and  coming  after  us.  I  could 
not  but  feel  and  express  my  sympathy  with  the  amiable 
and  sorrowful  prince,  who  evidently  loved  and  honored, 
with  the  profoundest  respect  and  affection,  his  unhappy 
father.  After  a  few  moments  he  added, 

"It  is  my  wish  to  see  the  prophet,  to  entreat  his  in 
terposition  with  the  God  of  our  fathers,  to  pardon  my 
father's  act  of  usurpation  of  the  priestly  office,  and  give 
him  prosperity  in  this  war,  and  in  all  his  reign.  Not 
that  I  desire  this  prosperity  on  my  own  account,  noble 
sir,  for  it  does  not  grieve  me  to  be  deprived  of  the  suc 
cession  to  my  father's  crown ;  but  alone  for  his  peace 
and  honor  do  I  desire  it." 

"  How,  my  prince,  are  you  to  be  deprived  of  your 
kingdom  at  the  king,  your  father's,  departure  from  this 
life?"  I  asked  with  surprise  at  his  words.  He  an 
swered, 

"  The  prophet  has  pronounced,  and  his  word  is  the  fiat 
of  God,  by  whose  inspiration  and  knowledge  he  speaks, 
that  the  kingdom  shall  be  given  to  another  at  his  death  ! 


110  THE    THRONE    OP    DAVID,    OR, 

Not  to  me  !  Another  is  to  rule  Israel,  not  of  my  blood 
or  of  my  name  !"  he  continued  with  earnest  feeling. 
"  But  he  who  is  to  wear  my  coronet  is  worthy  !  Heaven 
has  consecrated  him  beforehand !  His  anointed  and 
youthful  brow  but  waits  for  the  crown  of  my  father !" 

He  rode  quickly  onward,  as  if  to  give  some  orders  to 
Joab,  without  saying  more,  leaving  niy  mind  in  a  state 
of  suspense,  and  with  increased  interest  in  this  noble  and 
good  prince,  whose  life,  evidently,  is  also  shaded  by  the 
cloud  which  overhangs  the  path  of  his  royal  and  doomed 
father.  * 

The  stranger  caravan,  interesting  to  the  eye  from  the 
varied  costumes  of  the  foreign  people  who  composed  it, 
now  came  creeping  on  up  the  winding  ascent  in  a  long 
picturesque  line ;  while  my  Assyrian  retinue  of  nine  hun 
dred  men  were  drawn  up  at  a  distance  on  a  hill,  their 
burnished  armor  gleaming  in  the  radiance  of  the  sun, 
awaiting  the  passage  of  the  merchants  and  their  guard 
of  four  hundred  men,  led  by  their  gigantic  and  warlike 
chief. 

The  whole  company  having  passed  on,  the  spices  which 
the  camels  bore  filling  the  whole  atmosphere  with  fra 
grance  around  us,  my  caravan,  which  had  drawn  aside 
to  give  room  to  the  strangers,  once  more  advanced  with 
its  head  towards  the  south.  The  prince  gave  Joab  and 
Nacherib  warning  to  be  on  their  guard  against  any  bodies 
of  the  Philistines  who  might  be  secretly  penetrating  the 
country;  which  precautions  I  carefully  enjoined  ujcn  rny 
chief  captain,  also,  to  observe.  "We  remained  watching 
the  two  caravans,  which  got  out  of  sight,  going  in  their 
opposite  directions,  about  the  same  time :  and  then,  spur 
ring  forward,  we  made  all  haste  to  reach  Ramah  by  noon. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      Ill 

Onward  we  dashed  up  the  rocky  defiles,  my  body-guard 
of  a  hundred  Ninevite  horsemen  and  that  of  the  prince, 
divided  into  fifties,  preceding  and  following.  There  were, 
besides  these,  but  four  of  us  in  the  party,  the  prince, 
myself,  and  our  respective  armor-bearers;  the  Hebrew 
architect  having  gone  on  with  the  caravan. 

Our  road  was  at  one  time  amid  romantic  defiles,  the 
sides  of  which  were  hung  with  vines,  and  to  which  the 
cottages  of  the  vine-dressers  almost  seemed  to  cling  for 
support;  at  another  over  rocky  ridges  fortified  with 
castles  and  guarded  by  garrisons ;  now  we  traversed  lovely 
vales,  and  now  threaded  our  way  through  a  long  village 
of  white  stone  houses  with  flat  roofs  on  which  we  saw  the 
inhabitants  either  walking  for  air,  reading  parchments, 
or  copying  them,  the  women  pulling  flax,  weaving,  card 
ing,  or  engaged  in  needle-work;  while  many  were  at 
their  meals  upon  the  roof  which  was  protected  by  fan 
cifully  colored  awnings  with  fringed  curtains,  looking 
precisely  like  a  tent  pitched  upon  the  house-top.  These 
awnings  were  tasteful  in  shape,  and  rich  and  gay  in 
material  and  in  colors  according  to  the  wealth  of  the 
householder ;  and  so  were  the  occupations  of  the  family 
beneath  them,  either  humble  or  leisurely  elegant,  ac 
cording  to  their  condition.  It  was  a  lively  and  happy 
sccTie.  Want  seemed  to  be  a  word  unknown.  How  soon, 
I  thought,  could  all  this  fair  picture  be  changed  by  the 
invasion  of  a  wild  band  of  those  armed  Philistines,  who 
seem  to  have  been  for  generations  the  terror  of  the  land, 
and  its  implacable  foes!  I  felt  a  curiosity  to  know 
something  of  these  dreaded  adversaries.  The  prince 
kindly  answered  my  inquiries;  and  from  him  I  learned 
that  they  are  a  warlike  remnant  of  that  conquering 


112  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

family  "of  ancient  Phoenicia,  called  Palestines,  a  race  of 
Shepherd  warriors,  who  invaded  Egypt,  (before  the  time 
the  fathers  of  the  Hebrews  went  thither,)  and  with  their 
well-trained  armies  conquered  Lower  Egypt  and  set  up  a 
foreign  dynasty  at  Memphis.  After  reigning  for  six 
generations,  being  driven  out  of  Egypt  by  a  Theban 
conqueror,  they  retired  into  Palestine  with  only  a  rem 
nant  of  their  former  numbers ;  but  since  then  they  are 
much  increased  in  power  and  warlike  arts ;  for  their 
glory  and  happiness  is  in  war !  When  the  Hebrew 
people  conquered  the  adjoining  kingdoms,  fearing  for 
their  own,  they  became  their  most  vindictive  enemies. 
The  Hebrews  have  not  so  much  sought  to  conquer  their 
country  as  to  defend  their  own  from  their  invasions.  To 
this  day  they  continue  to  be  a  scourge  to  this  people  of 
God ;  and  what  is  singular  their  incursions  always  follow 
the  commission  by  the  people  of  Israel  of  some  national 
sin !  It  is  moreover  openly  said  by  their  Seer  that  God 
permits  these  foes  to  exist  as  a  living  instrument  for  the 
chastisement  of  the  nation ! 

How  wonderful  the  God  of  this  people !  How  con 
stant  his  watch  over  them  now  for  five  hundred  years  ! 
With  what  numberless  displays  of  his  divine  majesty  does 
he  aid  them  in  danger !  With  what  ceaseless  severity 
does  he  visit  them  when  prosperity  leads  them  to  forget 
their  dependence  upon  him !  Is  He  not  the  most  power 
ful  of  all  gods,  as  well  as  the  most  terrible  in  his  mani 
festations  of  Himself?  Who  of  the  gods  of  Assyria, 
Assur,  Ninus,  Assarac,  Belessar,  which  of  them  have  ever 
pretended  to  any  such  power  and  glory  ?  If  the  God  uf 
the  Hebrews,  your  majesty,  did  not  limit  his  care  and 
providence  to  this  people  alone,  but  manifested  himself 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      113 

to  all  nations  as  their  divine  Protector,  I  should  regard 
Him  as  the  Lord  of  the  whole  earth  and  the  Arbiter  of 
the  fate  of  all  kings  and  dominions,  even  as  of  this ! 
But  as  he  limits  his  care  to  the  Hebrews  he  is  evidently 
their  national  Deity  as  Assarac  is  ours !  yet  how  much 
more  powerful  is  the  Hebrew  God !  Nay,  his  power  it 
would  seem  to  me,  could  fill  the  world^  and  that  if  He 
chose  He  could  lord  it  over  all  lords,  and  rule  in  heaven 
and  on  earth  God  of  gods  and  King  of  kings  !  The  more 
I  learn  of  His  ways  and  dealings,  the  more  I  revere  and 
honor  his  mighty  name !  But  fear  not,  your  majesty, 
thata  I  shall  be  drawn  into  infidelity  and  become  a 
Hebrew!  The  gods  of  Assyria  are  the  true  gods  for  an 
Assyrian,  until  a  mightier  Deity  like  this  of  Israel  re 
moves  them  from  their  celestial  thrones,  and  reigns  over 
us  in  their  place. 

We  at  length  came  in  siMit  of  the  brown  battlements 

O  O 

of  llaraah  elevated  upon  a  steep,  which,  on  all  points, 
was  capped  with  turrets,  giving  it  a  warlike  and  corn 
manding  aspect.  Winding  our  way  through  pleasant  and 
populous  suburbs,  the  vine-dressers  and  laborers  in  the 
fields  pausing  to  regard  with  wonder  the  splendid  ap 
pearance  of  my  body-guard  in  their  foreign  armor  and 
plumed  crests,  we  came  before  the  eastern  gate  of  the 
city.  Here  we  were  challenged;  but  the  Prince  Jonathan 
being  instantly  recognized  by  the  chief-keeper  of  the 
gate  we  were  permitted  to  enter,  my  guards  following, 
riding  two  and  two.  The  streets  were  narrow  and  closely 
built,  and  the  roofs  and  lattices  were  thronged  with  people 
to  gaze  upon  us ;  for  at  first  the  alarm  had  been  bruited 
about  that  we  were  a  party  of  Philistines  who  were  ap 
proaching  the  city  ;  but  on  learning  that  we  were  friendly 
8  " 


114  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Assyrians  from  the  far  east,  their  curiosity  to  see  us  was 
unbounded. 

After  going  through  half  the  place  which  is  not  very 
large,  we  came  to  a  house  not  very  ancient  in  appearance, 
and  with  a  look  of  superior  dignity  to  the  others.  This, 
I  was  informed,  was  the  palace  of  Naioth,  the  abode  of 
the  late  Judge  of  Israel,  Isamel  the  Seer.  Here  we^ 
alighted,  and  the  prince  sent  in  his  armor-bearer  to  ask 
audience  of  the  man  of  God  for  himself  and  an  ambassa 
dor  from  the  court  of  Nineveh. 

But,  your  majesty,  I  will  defer  my  account  of  the  in 
terview  to  a  subsequent  letter.  Meanwhile,  witlfr  my 
prayers  to  the  gods  of  our  country  long  to  preserve  you 
in  health  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of  your  long  line  of 
heroic  and  pious  ancestors,  I  subscribe  myself, 

Your  cousin  and  faithful  subject 

AUBACES. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      115 


LETTER    IV. 

ARBACES  TO  HIS  KING. 

CAMP  NEAR  HEBROX,  CITY  OF  THE  KING. 
MY   BELOVED    MONARCH    AND    COUSIN  : 

I  WILL  now  proceed  to  relate  to  your  majesty  the 
Interesting  circumstances  connected  with  my  visit  to  the 
venerable  Seer  of  Israel.  While  the  armor-bearer  of 
the  Hebrew  prince  was  in  the  palace,  the  people,  in  great 
numbers,  gathered  about  us  and  hailed  with  glad  voices 
of  loud  acclamation  their  king's  son,  whom  many  recog 
nizing  had  pointed  out  to  all  others. 

What  with  his  distinguished  presence  among  them, 
and  the  curiosity  excited  by  my  Assyrian  guard  of  young 
nobles  in  their  cuirasses  of  gold,  silver  saddle  bows,  and 
rich  scarlet  cloth-housings,  and,  above  all,  their  beautiful 
Persian  horses,  the  scene  around  me  was  exciting  and  novel. 

"  Long  live  our  prince  !"  cried  one. 

"  May  he  soon  be  our  king !"  said  another,  boldly. 

"Nay,  this  is  treason,  my  friends !"  exclaimed  Jonathan, 
looking  round  sternly  and  rebuking  them  with  flashing 
eyes,  "  you  speak  like  traitors  to  your  king  who  use  such 
language.  You  mean  well,  but  I  cannot  hear  it!"  he 
added,  more  gently,  as  he  perceived  that  they  were 
abashed  and  humbled. 

At  this  moment  the  gate  of  the  court  opened,  and  the 


116 

prince's  armor-bearer,  Heleph,  reappeared,  accompanied 
by  the  steward  of  the  palace,  an  aged  man  attired  in  a 
loose  gray  robe,  and  with  snow-white  hair  and  a  flowing 
beard.  He  approached  Jonathan  with  courtesy,  and 
said,  at  the  same  time  saluting  me  in  a  marked  manner : 

"  The  prophet,  my  master,  desires  me  to  conduct  you, 
my  lords,  to  his  presence." 

We  followed  him  into  the  court-yard,  which  was  en 
closed  by  corridors,  and  with  a  fountain  in  its  centre, 
while  tall  palms  grew  from  the  midst  of  the  court,  the 
broad  tops  of  which  effectually  shaded  its  pavement  from 
the  sun.  The  columns  were  crumbling  with  age,  and 
covered  with  moss  or  half  concealed  by  neglected  vines. 
The  house  had  for  three  hundred  years  been  the  abode 
of  the  Judges;  and  when  Samuel  gave  up  his  authority 
from  the  weight  of  years  and  infirmities,  after  he  had 
passed  threescore  and  ten,  he  still  retained  it  as  his 
abode,  but  resigned  two  others  belonging  to  the  Judges, 
at  Gilgal  and  Mizpeh,  to  the  king.  Here  had  dwelt  for 
a  time  Samson,  the  mighty  destroyer  of  the  Philistines : 
here  Deborah,  and  here  nearly  all  the  stern,  old  warriors 
and  famous  Judges  of  the  land. 

Crossing  the  paved  inner  court,  and  ascending  a  flight 
of  stone  stairs,  the  steward  preceded  us  along  a  gallery 
to  a  spacious  chamber  that  was  placed  immediately  over 
the  gateway  through  which  we  had  entered.  The  door 
was  ajar.  The  steward  knocked  softly,  and  a  voice 
within  bade  us  enter.  We  obeyed,  and  stood  in  the  pre 
sence  of  the  man  of'  God ! 

I  beheld  before  me,  seated  by  the  window  which  threw 
its  light  upon  a  table  beneath  it  covered  with  parchments, 
a  man  of  august  and  venerable  aspect.  Large  and  ma- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM      117 

jestic  in  person,  stooping  a  little  with  great  age,  he  pre 
sented  the  ideal  of  the  father  of  gods  as  I  have  often 
conceived  his  appearance  in  imagination.  He  was  ele 
vated  a  little  above  the  floor  upon  a  sort  of  carved  throne, 
or  chair  of  state,  of  ancient  workmanship,  once  the  tri 
bunal  of  the  old  Judges,  robed  in  a  rich  garment  of 
woolen,  dyed  a  dark  crimson,  over  which  was  the  ephod 
or  sacred  mantle  of  the  Hebrews.  About  his  waist  was 
a  girdle  of  linen,  and  he  wore  a  full  white  tunic,  fringed, 
and  similar  to  what  I  have  seen  upon  the  chief  of  the 
Levitcs  !  Upon  his  head  was  a  small  blue  cap,  worn  to 
supply  the  loss  of  his  snow-white  hair,  a  few  thin  locks 
of  which  curled  down  about  his  neck  like  shining  threads 
of  silver.  His  majestic  face  was  one  on  which  heaven 
had  impressed  the  seal  of  the  highest  expression  of  hu 
manity.  Upon  his  lofty  forehead  authority  sat  enthroned 
as  upon  her  native  seat.  His  awful  eye-brows,  stiff  and 
black  as  night,  not  a  single  hair  turned  gray  thereon, 
hung  like  a  crag  above  his  imperious  eyes,  lending  to 
them  a  depth  and  power  inconceivably  grand  and  impres 
sive  !  Their  fire  was  not  dimmed,  nor  their  piercing 
regards  dulled  by  his  great  age ;  but  rather  his  soul 
seemed  to  be  concentrated  in  their  light  with  star-like 
brightness.  His  high,  arched  nose  indicated  a  strong 
and  resolute  character,  firm  and  bold;  while  the  proud  and 
commanding  air  of  his  closed  mouth  bore  testimony  to  a 
life  of  rule  and  absolute  power  over  men,  leaving  its  re 
cord  there  as  if  chiseled  in  marble. 

Withal,  I  fancied  I  could  discover  a  certain  elevated, 
chastened,  and  divine  expression  on  his  features,  caught 
from  frequent  communion  as  the  oracle  of  his  people, 
face  to  face  with  his  God!  TJrne,  while  it  had  softened. 


118         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

had  not  wholly  removed  from  his  noble  features  a  certain 
sternness  and  awful  severity  which  sufficiently  betrayed 
the  former  absolute  dictator,  powerful  Judge,  haughty 
prophet,  and  imperious  priest.  He  looked,  perhaps,  like 
all  he  had  been,  only  tempered  by  the  veil  of  repose, 
with  which  Old  Age  ever  invests  her  children. 

At  his  feet,  seated  upon  cushions  before  low  tables, 
were  two  scribes  in  blue  cassocks  and  white  linen  robes 
which  came  down  to  the  sandal.  They  were  engaged,  as 
we  entered,  with  pens  of  reed  in  taking  down  from  his  lips 
words  dictated  by  him  to  them.  Now  the  two  youths  were 
suspending  their  labor  and  were  gazing  upon  us ;  for  our 
entrance  had  interrupted  the  prophet  in  his  work.  I  saw 
freshly  written  "Shopeteim,"  or  "Judges,"  at  the  head 
of  one  of  the  parchments  before  them.  All  around  the 
room,  which  I  subsequently  learned  had  once  been  the  hall 
of  Judgment,  were  many  seats  arranged,  and  tablets  on 
stands  placed  before  them  ;  but  they  were  all  unoccupied. 
There  was  no  sort  of  ornament  09.  the  walls,  no  decora 
tion  of  any  kind  ;  on  the  contrary,  an  air  of  desolation 
and  decay  reigned  over  all.  The  very  palace  itself 
seemed  to  sympathize  in  the  decadence,  in  the  person  of 
their  present  aged  and  reverend  occupant,  of  the  long 
and  brilliant  succession  of  warrior-Judges  ! 

The  Seer,  upon  beholding  the  son  of  Saul  enter,  smiled 
with  that  benignity  which  so  becomes  old  age,  and  extend 
ing  his  hand  to  him,  said, 

"  Welcome,  Jonathan,  my  son !  I  am  too  infirm  to 
rise—" 

"  Not  to  me,  holy  father,  not  to  a  youth  like  me,"  in 
terrupted  the  prince,  kneeling  reverently  and  kissing 
the  hand  of  the  Seer  with  the  profoundest  respect  and 


THE   REBELLION    OF   PRINCE   ABSALOM.  119 

affection.  "  I  rejoice  you  are  so  well,  and  that  our  God 
has  so  long  spared  your  excellency  to  us  !" 

"  But  my  days,"  he  answered  gently,  "  will  soon  coine 
to  a  close,  my  child !  But  God  will  take  care  of  his 
people  Israel,  and  accomplish  the  work  for  which  he  has 
raised  them  up  and  made  them  a  great  nation." 

"  I  would,  my  lord,  that  the  king  and  thyself  were 
friends.  My  father  truly  grieves  at  the  past !  It  is 
breaking  his  great  heart !  He  mourns  until  his  mind  is 
fearfully  dark,  and  his  words  and  acts  strange.  Entreat 
the  Lord  our  God  for  him,  0  father  !" 

"Nay,"  answered  the  Seer,  his  brows  bending  sternly, 
and  a  light  of  displeasure  kindling  in  the  deeper  dark 
ness  beneath  them.  "  He  must  bear  the  judgment  of 
God  as  all  men  must  who  transgress  his  laws.  I  am 
grieved  to  hear  of  thy  father's  sad  condition.  I  have  no 
power  to  help  him,  my  son  !  The  will  of  God  will  be 
done  on  earth,  and  no  man  can  hinder  the  work  of  His 
hand  or  oppose  the  decrees  of  His  word  gone  forth. 
None  shall  let  or  hinder  Him !  Thou,  my  child,  art  inno 
cent,  and  I  know  good  and  pious  at  heart.  But  it  is  the 
unchangeable  law  of  sin  that  the  innocent  offspring  shall 
suffer  for  the  guilt  of  their  fathers." 

"  I  bow  in  submission  to  the  law  of  my  God,"  answered 
Jonathan  humbly,  his  voice  tremulous  and  low.  still 
kneeling  before  the  Seer. 

"  Thou  hast  forgotten,  my  son,  the  stranger  who  came 
in  with  thee  1"  said  Isarnel,  regarding  me  with  fixed  ob 
servation. 

"  Pardon  me,  my  venerable  father,  I  thought  only  of 
my  unhappy  parent;"  he  said,  rising.  "This  is  the 
inost  noble  Arbaces,  a  Prince  of  the  court  of  Assyria, 


120  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

and  cousin  to  its  great  King  Belus,  who  is  on  his  way  as 
an  ambassador  to  the  court  of  Pharaoh ;  but,  passing 
through  Judea,  seeks  your  presence  to  make  known  to 
you  the  respect  his  monarch  entertains  for  your  excel 
lency,  and  to  ask  of  you  from  him  certain  questions." 

I  advanced,  as  Jonathan  thus  formally  presented  me, 
and  bent  my  knee  before  the  august  and  awful  Seer, 
whose  looks  and  manner  deeply  impressed  me,  saying, 

"  May  your  mighty  God,  who  reveals  himself  in  glo 
rious  majesty,  bless  and  honor  your  highness  above  all 
wise  men  on  earth,  and  preserve  you  in  peace  and  health 
many  years  to  come  !  I  consider  myself  happy,  venera 
ble  Seer,  to  have  the  honor  of  seeing,  face  to  face,  the 
mighty  prophet  of  the  Hebrews,  whose  fame  has  long 
since  reached  the  court  of  Nineveh.  Permit  me  to  pre 
sent  the  congratulations  of  my  king,  and  his  kind  wishes 
for  the  prosperity  and  glory  of  your  nation." 

"  I  thank  thee  and  thy  great  king,  young  prince,  and 
in  return  wish  him  health  and  peace,  and  the  wisdom  of 
the  knowledge  of  the  true  God,  who  is  Jehovah,  King  of 
kings,  and  Lord  of  the  whole  earth,  and  Maker  of  all 
men,  whose  aged  servant  I  am  permitted  to  be."  Then 
regarding  me  attentively,  he  inquired,  u  How  long  hast 
thou  been  in  this  land  ?" 

"  It  is  not  quite  one  month,  your  highness,  since  I  left 
the  banks  of  the  Tigris,"  I  replied,  rising  from  my  knee. 
u  I  have  been  nearly  half  that  time  in  your  beautiful  and 
abundant  land,  every  step  in  which  I  have  been  in 
terested." 

"I  trust  you  will  find  your  visit  in  Judea  agreeable," 
he  courteously  answered. 

The  venerable  Seer  then  invited  me  to  sojourn  with 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      121 

him  a  few  clays,  saying,  pleasantly,  he  could  not  give  me 
princely  entertainment,  but  that  if  1  would  fare  as  he 
did  and  the  school  of  the  prophets  under  his  roof,  I 
should  be  a  welcome  guest. 

After  some  further  interesting  conversation  with  the 
august  Hebrew,  whose  presence  more  and  more  impressed 
me  with  awe  and  respect,  the  steward  conducted  me  to 
a  chamber  along  the  corridor.  As  I  proceeded  thither, 
I  perceived  in  a  second  or  interior  court,  which  also  con 
tained  a  garden,  several  youths  and  young  men  in  dark 
tunics  and  caps,  variously  engaged.  Some  were  walking 
up  and  down  the  terrace  reading  from  leaves  of  parch 
ment,  others  conversing,  others  engaged  in  exercise ;  and 
three  or  four  in  copying  with  a  stylus,  beneath  a  tama 
rind  tree. 

"Who  are  these,  and  what  is  their  pursuit  ?"  I  asked 
of  the  steward,  having  left  the  prince  conversing  still 
about  the  king  his  father,  and  the  menacing  invasion  of 
the  Philistines. 

"  This  is  the  <  School  of  the  Prophets,'  my  lord,"  an 
swered  the  old  man.  "  Has  not  the  fame  thereof  reached 
thy  land  ?" 

To  avoid  making  a  reply,  which  might  wound  the  kind 
old  servitor's  national  pride,  I  inquired  the  number  of 
the  young  men. 

"  Seventy,  your  highness.  That  is  the  sacred  num 
ber,  neither  more  nor  less.  When  one  leaves,  another 
enters.  This  school  was  founded  forty  years  ago  by 
Samuel,  (in  that  the  sons  of  Eli  proved  so  evil,)  that  the 
prophets  of  the  people  might  be  piously  instructed  in 
their  holy  duties." 

After  I  had  found  my  chamber,  and  seen  and  talked 


122  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID,    OB, 

with  Ninus  my  armor-bearer,  who  informed  me  that  my 
body-guard  were  well  cared  for,  I  walked  along  the  corri 
dor  to  observe  the  young  candidates  for  the  high  office  of 
prophets  of  God.  They  all  seemed  to  be  happy,  and  by 
their  appearance  to  come  from  among  the  best  families 
of  the  land ;  though  here  and  there  was  one  with  less  re 
finement  than  his  companions,  and  evidently  from  a  more 
rustic  district.  There  was  one  youth  of  singular  grace 
and  beauty  of  person,  who  was  reading  by  the  fountain, 
and  wholly  absorbed  in  what  he  studied,  whose  appear 
ance  greatly  pleased  me. 

While  I  was  observing  him,  a  trumpet  sounded  a  few 
brisk  notes,  and  all  the  young  men  left  their  pursuits,  and 
crossing  the  court  entered  a  door  beneath  the  portico 
and  disappeared.  The  handsome  young  student,  not 
hearing  the  signal  at  first,  was  the  last  to  go  in.  Prince 
Jonathan  at  this  moment  stood  by  my  side.  He  had 
just  left  the  presence  of  the  Seer.  His  face  wore  a 
profound  aspect  of  sadness  that  was  very  touching. 
But  seeing  my  look  of  sympathy,  he  gently  smiled  and 
said, 

"  Do  not  let  my  sorrows  render  you  sad,  my  lord.  I 
had  hoped  that  I  could  appeal  successfully  for  a  blessing 
on  my  father,  and  prosperity  to  his  arms  in  the  war ! 
But  it  is  the  will  of  Jehovah  that  he  shall  not  prosper ! 
What  am  I  to  oppose  God  ?  I  do  not  blame  at  all  the 
holy  prophet.  He  has  but  uttered  what  God  com 
manded.  He  sincerely  mourns  for  my  father,  and  pities 
him,  even  while  he  is  firm  in  his  purpose  to  see  him  no 
more !  But  we  will  not  speak  on  this  subject.  How 
grand  the  prospect  from  this  terrace !  I  perceive  you 
were  admiring  it.  From  yonder  height  of  Mount  Eph- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      123 

raim  you  can  see,  in  certain  conditions  of  the  atmosphere, 
the  Great  Middle  Sea,  beyond  the  illimitable  horizon  of 
which  all  is  a  mystery  and  marvel  to  mankind!" 

"This  prospect  is  varied  and  beautiful,"  I  answered; 
"but  my  attention  was  fixed  upon  the  court  below,  which 
a  moment  since  was  filled  with  young  men,  who  have  just 
entered  beneath  the  portico  by  that  palm  tree." 

"  You  have  seen  the  disciples  of  the  prophet,"  he  said, 
"  This  is  the  School  of  Seers  for  the  nation  !  It  is  a 
high  privilege  to  be  admitted  into  it.  Here  they  are 
taught  by  seven  of  the  wisest  Rabbiis  of  the  nation,  each 
gifted  with  the  spirit  of  prophecy,  knowledge  of  the  law, 
and  ^f  all  religious  duties  and  holy  rites ;  and  they  also 
know  the  mystery  of  communing  with  God,  the  highest 
privilege  of  man  !  This  school  is  supported  by  the  gifts 
of  the  people.  The  youths  have  now  gone  in  to  their 
noon-day  meal.  The  place  is  free  to  all.  Will  you  ac 
company  me  ?" 

I  gladly  accepted  his  companionship ;  and,  descending 
the  terrace  into  the  garden,  he  first  pointed  out  to  me  the 
rooms  occupied  by  the  young  men.  They  were  per 
fectly  plain,  with  a  lion  or  leopard's  skin  laid  upon  the 
tiled  floor  for  a  bed,  a  bench,  and  pitcher  for  water,  and 
an  iron  lamp :  this  was  all  their  furniture.  Entering  the 
hall  I  saw  the  whole  company  standing  around  a  long, 
narrowr  table,  upon  which  were  set  earthen  vessels  of 
bread,  cups  of  water,  and  lentils,  with  dried  fruit  in 
abundance.  This  was  their  frugal  fare,  but  they  partook 
of  it  with  evident  satisfaction.  At  the  head  of  the  table 
was  another  one  much  shorter,  by  which  also  stood  the 
seven  noble-looking  Teachers  of  the  School  of  Prophets. 
I  looked  for  the  young  man  whose  fine  appearance  had 


124  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;  OR, 

so  struck  me  when  in  the  court,  but  could  not  discover 
him.  After  they  had  ended  their  humble  meal,  a  signal 
was  given  and  one  of  the  Rabbiis  commenced  to  chant. 
The  young  men  responded  all  in  one  voice  till  the  roof 
rung  again.  The  second  Rabbi  recited  a  part,  and  the 
seventy  youths  answered  antiphonally  as  before ;  and 
thus  seven  verses  were  nobly  hymned  to  their  God  in 
fine  manly  voices,  and  with  the  most  wonderful  melody. 

They  now,  at  another  signal,  formed  in  line  and  marched 
at  a  slow  movement  along  the  hall,  mounted  a  broad 
flight  of  stairs  and  entered  a  large  upper  apartment 
around  which  they  arranged  themselves  in  attitudes  of 
reverence.  At  the  upper  end,  upon  a  platform  covered 
with  blue  cloth,  the  seven  prophet-teachers  took  their 
seats.  Then  a  door  opened  and  the  venerable  Seer  came 
in  from  his  chamber.  All  rose,  crossing  their  hands 
upon  their  breasts,  and  bowed  with  affectionate  respect. 
He  took  his  seat  just  above  the  seven  sub-prophets,  and 
opening  a  roll  of  parchment  which  he  held,  he  proceeded 
to  read  from  it,  to  his  attentive  audience,  a  treatise  upon 
the  moral  obligations  of  all  men  to  love  one  another  as 
children  of  the  same  common  Father.  He  closed  with 
enforcing  the  virtues  of  purity,  truth,  temperance,  and 
industry,  and  reminding  them  of  the  omnipresence  of 
their  God,  who  judged  men  by  their  hearts. 

When  he  had  concluded  this  beautiful  essay,  seven 
young  men  came  forward  and  took  their  stand  by  a  sort 
of  choir-desk,  where  stood  a,  harp  and  several  smaller 
musical  instruments,  such  as  the  sackbut,  psaltery, 
crumpet,  cornet,  and  ten  stringed  lute. 

The  young  man  who  had  so  attracted  my  attention  I 
now  saw  leave  one  of  the  seats  where  he  had  been  out 


THE  KEBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      125 

of  view,  and  go  to  the  harp,  over  which  he  ran  his  fingers 
as  a  prelude  to  one  of  the  most  sublime  and  torching 
pieces  I  ever  listened  to.  The  prince  no  sooner  fastened 
his  eves  upon  him  than,  with  an  exclamation  of  surprise 
and  pleasure,  he  made  a  half  spring  forward  as  if  to  ad 
dress  him !  but  this  impulse  he  instantly  checked,  say 
ing* 

"  It  is  the  young  shepherd  of  Bethlehem  !" 
He  stood  up  and  eagerly  regarded  him  with  the  most 
friendly  interest,  like  one  who  suddenly  discovers  a  very 
dear  friend.  I  could  not  ask  him  any  questions,  I  was 
BO  rapt  with  the  performance  of  this  beautiful  youth  upon 
the  harp,  and  with  the  rich  and  harmonious  tones  of  his 
voice ;  for  he  played  but  a  few  passages  before  he  began 
to  sing  a  hymn  addressed  to  his  God  ! 

Praise  ye  the  Lord. 

Praise  God  in  his  sanctuary ; 

Praise  him  in  the  firmament  of  his  power ; 

Praise  him  for  his  mighty  acts  ; 

Praise  him  according  to  his  excellent  greatness ; 

Praise  him  with  the  sound  of  the  trumpet  ; 

Praise  him  with  the  psaltery  and  harp ; 

Praise  him  with  the  timbrel  and  dances ; 

Praise  him  with  stringed  instruments  and  organs ; 

Praise  him  upon  the  loud  cymbals ; 

Praise  him  upon  the  high  sounding  cymbals. 

Let  everything  that  hath  breath  praise  the  Lord. 

Praise  ye  the  Lord. 

How  breathless  all  listened  to  the  magnificent  anthem ! 
How  noble  and  graceful  his  attitude !  how  grandly  he 
strikes  the  harp  strings  !  How  calm  and  holy  his  coun 
tenance  !  How  full  of  adoration  his  aspect !  What  a 


126  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

light  of  devotion  burns,  like  altar  fires,  in  his  upturned 
eyes! 

When  he  had  ended,  the  other  players  played  upon 
their  instruments  their  parts ;  and  then  the  seventy 
pupils  chanted  sublimely  theirs  ;  and  the  Seer,  raising  his 
hands  solemnly  to  heaven,  spoke  a  sublime  recitative  to 
his  God;  when  all,  harp,  cymbals,  trumpet,  and  voices, 
united  in  one  mighty  swell  of  praise. 

I  was  overpowered  by  my  sensations  !  My  heart  was 
dissolved  within  me  already  by  the  sweet  melody  of  the 
youthful  harper.  Tears  came  into  my  eyes !  Harmony 
of  sounds  had  never  before  impressed  me  so  and  moved 
my  soul ! 

The  Seer  now  spread  out  his  hands  and  blessed  them ; 
and  shortly  afterwards  the  students  retired,  not  in  pro 
cession,  but  leisurely,  conversing  with  each  other  and 
their  teachers.  Several  approached  the  Prince  Jona 
than,  and  with  great  demonstrations  of  affectionate  re 
spect  saluted  him. 

"Who,"  I  asked  him,  "is  the  youth  who  played  BO 
wonderfully  upon  the  harp?" 

"I  am  now  going  to  embrace  him!"  he  answered. 
"  Will  you  come  with  me,  my  lord  Arbaces  ?  See,  he 
advances !" 

"David!" 

w  My  friend  and  prince !" 

These  mutual  exclamations  were  followed  by  a  warm 
meeting  between  the  harpist  and  the  son  of  King  Saul ; 
the  last  speaking  with  ardent  and  delighted  feeling,  the 
former  with  modest  diffidence,  yet  with  evident  strong 
attachment  to  his  prince. 

"  How  long  hast  thou  been  in  the  School  of  the  Pro* 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      127 

phots  ?"  asked  the  king's   son,  releasing  him  from  his 
embrace.     "I  believed  thou  wert  still  at  Bethlehem!" 

"I  have  been  here  but  a  few  weeks,  noble  prince," 
answered  the  humble  youth,  with  looks  full  of  friendship, 
if  not  of  love,  for  this  amiable  and  warm-hearted  young 
man  of  high  rank.  "  The  holy  prophet,  Samuel,  sent 
for  me  to  come  hither  to  study,  and  I  have  obeyed  him. 
I  estimate  deeply  this  privilege  of  knowing  books,  and 
being  versed  in  the  wisdom  of  this  far-famed  seat  of 
sacred  learning." 

"  I  rejoice  at  it,  my  dear  David  !  Here  you  should  be  ! 
You  know,  as  well  as  do  I,  your  high  destiny,  God-elected ! 
It  becomes  you  to  be  here  to  prepare  yourself  therefor  !" 

This  was  said  in  a  tone  that  was  unconsciously  sad. 
The  youth  pressed  his  hand,  and  without  a  word,  (for 
both  their  hearts  seemed  full  from  the  presence  of  a  com 
mon  thought,)  they  walked  away  together  hand  clasped 
in  hand !  I  followed  them  witli  deep  interest  with  my 
eyes,  and  a  desire  to  learn  more  of  the  noble  and  beau 
tiful  boy,  for  scarcely  was  he  twenty  years  of  age,  who 
seemed  to  be  so  loved  by  the  kind  prince. 

The  Hall  of  Praise  and  of  Prayer  was  now  deserted  by 
all,  save  the  Seer,  towards  whom  I  advanced,  as  he 
seemed  to  await  me. 

"  Come  with  me  into  my  chamber,  my  lord  of  Nine 
veh,"  he  said,  with  an  air  of  venerable  courtesy.  "  Since 
the  prince  and  the  youthful  shepherd,  David,  are  gone 
away  together,  you  will  be  left  alone  for  a  time.  I  will 
now  give  thee  audience,  and  hear  thee  in  behalf  of  the 
request  made  by  your  prince." 

I  passed  an  hour  with  the  man  of  God.  The  awe  I 
at  first  experienced  in  his  presence  was  not  lessened. 


128  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

while  a  profound  feeling  of  filial  affection  became  min 
gled  with  it.  He  won  my  heart  while  he  continued  to 
command  its  deepest  and  most  reverential  homage.  I 
will,  when  I  return  to  Nineveh,  your  majesty,  reveal  to 
you  his  answer  to  your  inquiries.  We  spoke  of  the  He 
brew  king.  This  led  to  an  allusion  by  me,  not  without 
hesitation  lest  I  should  be  venturing  on  forbidden  ground, 
to  his  malady.  He  said,  gravely  : — 

"  You  will  find  Saul,  0  prince,  an  unhappy  monarch  ! 
The  spirit  of  God  has  departed  from  him  for  his  impiety 
and  disobedience.  He  is  a  man  to  be  pitied.  His  scep 
tre  will  soon  be  taken  from  him,  and  be  given  to  him 
whom  God  has  anointed." 

Here  the  Seer  paused,  and  turning  to  the  table  took 
up  a  parchment-roll  closely  written.  As  he  saw  me  look 
with  curiosity  at  several  other  scrolls,  and  glance  at  those 
upon  the  desks  where  the  two  scribes  had  been  writing, 
he  said : — 

"  I  perceive  you  possess  a  mind  which  takes  pleasure 
in  investigation.  These  parchments  contain  in  progress 
the  history  of  the  three  hundred  and  ninety  years  of  the 
rule  of  the  Judges  from  Joshua  to  myself,  the  last  of 
the  Judges  of  Israel !  In  the  roll  upon  the  shelf  above 
the  table  is  the  book  of  Joshua,  written  by  himself 
up  to  within  a  few  days  of  his  death,  and  completed 
by  me.  The  five  large  scrolls  with  purple  covers,  in  the 
niche  by  the  window,  comprise  the  Five  Books  written  by 
our  great  law-giver,  Moses.  They  are  our  sacred  Re 
cords,  and  the  seal  of  God  to  them  bears  testinHpny  to 
their  truth  as  the  voice  and  word  of  Jehovah !  That 
small  scroll  in  a  silver  case  is  a  history  written  by  the 
young  man  who  performed  upon  the  harp  with  such  skill. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      129 

It  is  called  the  "  Story  of  Ruth,"  who  was  the  mother 
of  his  grandfather  !  It  was  written  by  him  in  his  nine 
teenth  year  at  Bethlehem,  at  my  request,  in  order  to 
preserve  the  genealogy  of  his  family.  It  is  a  poem  of 
great  beauty,  for  the  youth  is,  by  nature  as  well  as  by 
divine  inspiration,  a  true  poet !" 

"  I  am  already  interested  in  the  young  harpist,  my 
lord,"  I  answered,  "  and,  with  your  permission,  I  will  read 
his  book." 

The  Seer  kindly  gave  me  the  permission.  There  en 
tered  at  this  moment  one  of  the  seven  prophets  or  teach 
ers  of  the  school,  whom  I  had  noticed  while  in  the  "  Hall 
of  Praise,"  from  the  remarkable  intelligence  of  his  face, 
and  a  certain  air  of  independence  and  courage  by  no 
means  unbefitting  one  who  was  to  be  a  censor  of  evil 
men,  as  all  prophets  must  be.  He  acknowledged  my 
presence  with  a  slight  but  respectful  bow,  and  was  going 
to  the  shelves  for  a  book  when  the  Seer  said  to  him, 

"  Nathan,  my  son,  place  in  the  hands  of  the  Prince  of 
Assyria  the  Book  of  Iluth  :  and  if  you  have  time  tran 
scribe  a  copy  for  him.  He  desires  to  know  all  he  can 
of  our  polity,  religion,  and  literature,  during  his  short 
sojourn  in  our  land !  As  you  are  familiar  with  these 
subjects,  I  desire  you  to  attend  him  for  a  time,  and  af 
ford  the  prince  whatever  information  he  may  require." 

I  thanked  the  venerable  prophet  for  this  favor ;  and 
the  young  teacher,  after  giving  me  the  book,  said  with  a 
pleasant  smile,  "  It  will  gratify  me  to  be  of  service  to 
your  highness." 

The  Seer  then  retired  to  an  inner  closet  or  oratory, 
where  he  was  accustomed  to  pray,  and  closing  the  door 

left  us  in  the  Judgment  hall.     I  passed  two  hours  exam- 
9 


130  THE   THRONE   OF    DAVID;    OR, 

ining  the  manuscripts  therein,  some  of  which  were  richly 
illuminated  with  brilliantly  colored  headings  to  the  chap 
ters.  The  polite  teacher  then  led  me  along  the  terrace 
to  a  room,  which  contained  copies  of  nearly  all  the  books 
ever  written  in  the  known  world:  Egyptian,  Assyrian, 
Phoenician,  Indie,  Arabian,  Babylonian,  and  parchments 
from  the  land  of  Tarshish,  in  the  farthest  east,  and  from 
the  Isles  of  Grecia  in  the  farthest  west,  which,  in  his  life 
of  nearly  ninety  years,  the  learned  Seer  had  gathered 
by  means  of  merchants  and  travelers,  often  offering  to 
chiefs  of  caravans  large  sums  in  gold  for  books  from 
strange  countries  ! 

"  And  is  there  in  your  seminary  of  the  prophets  any 
one  so  learned  as  to  be  able  to  read  these  parchments  in 
their  own  languages  ?"  I  asked,  holding  in  my  hand  a 
massive  volume  bound  between  rolled-out  plates  of  silver, 
and  written  in  beautiful  but  strange  characters. 

"  No  one  but  the  prophet  our  president,"  he  answered; 
44  He  has  the  knowledge  of  all  the  tongues  within  them  ! 
That  book  you  hold  in  your  hand  is  an  Arabic  book, 
treating  upon  the  stars,  from  the  land  of  Idumea,  the 
chief  city  of  which  is  wonderfully  cut  out  of  the  side  of 
a  mountain.  You  perceive,  graven  upon  the  silver  cover, 
a  picture  of  that  city  !" 

From  this  "Chamber  of  Wisdom,"  as  it  is  called,  we 
walked  along  the  corridor,  as  he  intended  to  show  me 
the  view  of  the  Great  Sea  westward,  which  I  had  ex 
pressed  a  curiosity  to  behold.  We  passed  a  column  in 
crossing  the  garden  which  seemed  to  be  a  monument  to 
the  dead.  Seeing  me  observe  it  and  admire  its  carved 
plinth,  and  the  symmetry  of  its  form,  he  said, 

"  That  is  the  only  remaining  pillar  of  a  great  temple 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      131 

to  the  dragon  god  Bel,  which  once  stood  where  tnis  old 
palace  of  the  Judges  is  placed.  It  was  destroyed  by  our 
fathers,  all  but  this  column,  which  Joshua  commanded 
to  be  left  as  a  memorial  of  the  gigantic  architecture  of 
the  powerful  nation  of  idol  worshipers  he  had  conquered. 
It  is  now  still  more  famous  as  the  toinb  of  the  might y 
Samson,  once  a  Judge  and  prophet  in  Israel,  as  well  as 
a  warrior !" 

"I  have  already,  to-day,  read,"  I  answered,  "in  the 
parchments  of  the  Seer,  a  narrative  of  this  Hebrew  hero, 
who  perished,  I  believe,  about  seventy  or  eighty  years 
ago  by  pulling  down  a  vast  theatre  upon  the  heads  of  his 
enemies,  destroying  them  all  with  himself!" 

"  Yes  !  He  was  the  strongest,  though  not  the  largest 
of  all  men,  and  nobly  died  avenging  himself  upon  the 
foes  who  had  put  his  eyes  out  in  sport.  His  body  was 
subsequently  recovered  from  the  ruins,  and  buried  by 
the  side  of  this  column,  which  has  now  become  his  monu 
ment.  When  he  was  a  Judge  of  the  people,  he  dwelt 
here  two  years  of  the  time  ;  and  one  morning,  after  a 
slight  shock  of  an  earthquake  during  the  preceding 
night,  he  saw  that  this  column  leaned  over  so  that  it 
threatened  each  moment  to  fall  and  crush  beneath  it 
that  wing  of  the  palace.  In  the  presence  of  the  Seventy 
Elders,  his  council,  and  the  governor  of  the  city,  and 
many  others,  he  came  down,  and  placing  his  hand  against 
it,  with  one  effort  of  his  mighty  strength,  he  restored  it 
to  its  level,  upright  as  you  behold  it  now!  When, 
therefore,  he  perished  between  the  columns  of  the  house 
of  the  Philistines,  it  was  deemed  fitting  that  he  should 
rest  here ;  and  now  it  is  called  no  longer  '  Dagon's  Pil 
lar,'  but  the 'Pillar  of  Samson.'" 


132  THE   THRONE   OP   DAVID  J    OR, 

We  now  passed  a  series  of  rooms  which  the  young 
prophet  informed  me  were  the  apartments  of  the  women 
of  the  families  of  the  former  Judges.  "  There,"  he  said, 
pointing  to  a  spacious  room  now  tenantless  and  ruinous, 
"  the  courageous  prophetess  Deborah  had  her  lodgings. 
In  that  door  she  stood  when  she  made  known  to  the  He 
brew  Judge  and  general,  Barak,  God's  command  for  him 
to  attack  the  barbaric  Canaanites,  who  held  a  portion  of 
our  nation  in  bondage.  When  he  refused  to  go  for  feai 
of  their  great  army,  she  indignantly  cried," 

"  Wilt  thou  have  me  to  go  with  you?" 

"  Is  not  God  with  thee?"  he  answered.  "Come  with 
my  army  and  I  will  meet  Sisera  and  all  his  hosts ;  but 
if  thou  remainest  behind,  I  will  not  stir  horse  or  foot 
from  mount  Tabor  where  my  army  lies."  The  prophet 
ess  put  her  ephod  upon  her  shoulders,  and  taking  only 
her  sacred  wand,  marched  forth  with  him.  Sisera,  a 
brave  and  experienced,  though  youthful  general,  was 
defeated  and  losing  his  chariot  in  the  battle,  fled  on  foot, 
and  was  taken  and  slain  by  a  woman  called  Jael,  to  whose 
tent  he  came  for  shelter. 

"I  have  also  read  that  narration,"  I  answered,  "in 
the  writings  of  your  Seer." 

"  You  will  then  recollect  that  she  cut  off  his  head  with 
her  own  hand.  It  was  sent  hither  to  the  prophetess 
Deborah,  and  laid  by  the  messenger  upon  this  stone  by  the 
door  ;  but  she  humanely  commanded  it  to  be  sent  back 
and  buried  with  his  body,  which,  at  her  request,  Barak 
had  conveyed  to  his  mother  who,  from  her  lattice,  was 
waiting  his  return  as  a  conqueror,  when  she  beheld  ap 
proaching  his  headless  body  brought  back  upon  a  bier 
of  boughs." 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      133 

"When  did  this  heroine  live?"  I  asked  of  the  intelli 
gent  and  interesting  young  prophet. 

"About  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago.  Here  is  an 
apartment,"  he  continued,  "which  is  invested  with  pleas 
ing  yet  most  painfully  touching  associations.  About 
one  hundred  years  since,  there  was  a  noble  and  brave 
general,  whose  name  was  Jeptha.  He  had  a  fair  daugh 
ter,  called  Phigenia.  Her  beauty  and  gentle  character 
made  her  universally  beloved.  Her  warlike  father  idol, 
ized  her,  while  she  returned  his  fond  affection  with  till 
the  tender  ardor  of  a  daughter's  love.  It  was  a  pleasing 
sight  to  see  them  both  together,  and  witness  his  prideful 
regard  as  he  gazed  upon  her  lovely  face,  and  met  the 
soft  eyes  of  filial  trust  and  confidence  with  which  she 
looked  up  to  him.  When  he  came  from  the  wars  she 
would  be  the  first  to  descry,  from  the  tower  of  his  castle, 
his  tall  form  and  waving  crest;  and  the  first,  when  he 
entered  the  gate  of  the  city  where  he  dwelt,  to  welcome 
him  with  cries  of  joy  and  gratitude  at  his  safe  return; 
while  he  would  bend  over  from  the  saddle  and  lift  her 
slender  form  to  his  mailed  bosom,  and  kiss  her  cheeks 
witli  tear-sparkling  eyes  and  words  of  parental  love. 
When  he  reached  the  palace,  she  would,  with  her  delicate 
finders,  untie  the  fastenings  of  his  brazen  helmet,  arrange 

O  5  O  C 

his  gray  locks,  and  attend  to  his  comfort  in  the  thousand 
ways  known  only  to  pure  and  unselfish  filial  love. 

"At  length  the  King  of  Animon,  who  reigned  on  the 
east  of  Jordan,  invaded  the  land.  Jeptha  was  called 
upon  by  the  people  to  become  their  leader  in  the  war, 
and  they  invested  him  with  authority  as  a  prince  arid  a 
Judge  over  them :  the  highest  office  in  the  nation.  His 
daughter  was  at  this  time  sojourning  in  Mizpeh  at  his 


134  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

house  with  her  friends.  But  when  he  became  Judge  of 
Israel,  he  forthwith  sent  her  to  Ramah  with  his  sister  to 
make  ready  this  palace,  as  he  intended  after  the  war  to 
dwell  here.  For  eighteen  years,  the  Philistines  had  op 
pressed  our  nation  and  conquered  us  in  every  battle,  so 
that  we  were  in  a  measure  subject  to  them,  and  for  that 
period  had  no  Judge  in  Israel.  The  election  of  so  dis 
tinguished  a  soldier  as  Jeptha  caused  great  joy ;  and  all 
the  people  sent  offerings  to  Ramah,  and  also  to  Gibeah  to 
repair  the  houses  of  the  Judges  which  had  been  suffered 
to  fall  into  desolation. 

"  The  people  of  Ramah  rejoiced  that  their  Judge  was 
about  to  make  his  habitation  among  them,  and  gave  their 
money  freely  to  restore  it ;  and  his  fair  daughter  had 
soon  the  palace  ready  for  the  reception  of  her  father 
when  he  should  return  from  the  field. 

"  In  the  meanwhile  Jeptha,  on  the  east  of  Jordan,  had 
been  making  preparations  to  give  battle  to  his  adversa 
ries.  On  the  eve  of  attacking  them,  he  stood  before  his 
captains,  and  raising  his  right  hand  to  God  made  a 
solemn  vow,  which  he  sealed  by  the  oath  of  God,  that  if 
the  Lord  would  give  him  victory  over  the  army  of 
Ammon  and  deliver  their  adversaries  into  his  hand,  on 
his  return  to  Mizpeh,  whatever  came  forth  out  of  the 
gate  of  the  city  to  meet  him,  he  would  offer  it  as  a  burnt- 
offering  unto  the  Lord  his  God  !  Little  did  the  warlike 
father  suspect  who  would  meet  him.  Phigenia,  his  daugh 
ter,  having  got  this  palace  all  in  readiness,  and  anxious 
to  hear  news  from  her  father,  and  obtaining  none  after 
three  days'  suspense,  said  she  would  go  as  far  as  Miz 
peh,  as  she  could  sooner  there  get  tidings  from  the 
land  of  Ammon  whether  there  had  been  a  battle  and  her 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      135 

father  were  safe.  So  she  returned  with  her  maidens  and 
friends  to  Mizpeh.  Hardly  had  she  entered  within  the 
walls  of  that  city,  ere  a  messenger  came  into  the  town, 
running  and  saying  "that  a  great  battle  had  been  fought, 
and  Jeptha  victorious  !  The  next  day,  from  the  bat 
tlements,  the  conqueror,  with  a  small  war-worn  retinue 
attending  him,  was  discerned  galloping  across  the  valley 
towards  the  gates.  The  whole  city  went  out  to  hail 
their  deliverer ;  and  as  they  drew  near  him,  falling  back 
a  little,  they  let  Phigenia  advance  first  to  meet  him,  at 
the  head  of  a  company  of  the  maidens  of  Mizpeh  with 
timbrels  and  dances. 

"When  he  looked  up  and  saw  her,  he  uttered  a  great 
cry  of  agony,  and  leaping  off  his  horse  to  the  ground, 
rent  his  mantle,  and  covering  his  face,  refused  to  embrace 
her,  saying, 

"  'Alas,  my  daughter  !  alas  !  How  earnest  thou  hither 
to  meet  me  and  to  break  my  heart  ?'  And  she  said, 
(while  all  stood  amazed  at  his  grief,) 

"  <  What  grieveth  thee,  0  my  father  ?  Art  thou  not 
covered  with  glory  ?  Has  not  God  blessed  thy  sword 
with  victory?  I  have  come  forth  to  meet  thee,  like  a 
loving  and  fond  daughter,  to  hail  thee  conqueror  of 
Ammon,  when  thou  hidest  thy  face  and  turnest  from 
me  in  sorrow !  Art  thou  wounded,  0  my  father,  and  in 
pain  ?' 

"  '  Wherefore  should  I  not  hide  my  face  and  weep  ?' 
he  answered,  gazing  upon  her  with  a  haggard  visage. 
'Listen,  my  child!  I  vowed  a  vow  to  God  before  the 
battle  that,  if  he  would  deliver  Amrnon  into  my  hand,  I 
would  sacrifice  as  a  burnt  offering  to  Him,  the  first  ob 
ject  that  met  me  on  my  return  liome  I  Lo  !  Thou  art 


136         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

come,  alas,  alas,  to  make  thyself  the  victim  !  Would 
God  I  had  fallen  on  the  field  by  the  sword  of  Ammon,  or 
lost  the  battle  with  infamy,  ere  my  eyes  beheld  thee 
here!  But  I  have  sworn  to  God  ihy  death,  and  thou 
must  die !' 

"  Then  all  the  people  with  the  maidens  lifted  up  their 
voices  and  wept  sore  at  these  dread  words ;  but  the 
lovely  Phigenia,  with  a  firm  voice  though  with  a  marble 
face,  said, 

" '  My  father,  if  thou  hast  sworn,  thou  canst  not  forswear 
thine  oath !  Do  with  me  according  to  thy  vow !  Hath 
not  -the  Lord  given  thee  victory  over  thine  enemies,  thus 
accepting  thine  oath  ?  And  wilt  thou  withhold  the  sacri 
fice,  or  shall  I  the  victim  ?  No,  my  noble  father  !  I  am 
ready  to  die — to  have  purchased  thereby  this  victory  of 
my  country  and  the  glory  of  thine  arms!' 

" '  Ah,  dearly  purchased  by  thy  sweet  death,  my  child !' 
he  answered,  falling  upon  her  neck  and  holding  her 
lovely  and  slender  form  long  in  silence  against  his 
mailed  heart.  At  length  he  stood  up  and  said,  with 
husky  words, 

"'Thou  shalt  not  die!    Heaven  will  spare  my  child!' 

"  'Then  what  price  wilt  thou  pay  back  to  God,  0  my 
father,  for  the  victory?  I  am  no  longer  tliine,  but  con 
secrated  by  thy  vow  to  heaven !  Better  I  should  meet 
my  death  on  the  altar  of  fire  than  thou  shouldst  be  false 
to  thine  oath  on  the  field  of  victory.' 

" '  Yes — there  is  no  hope — none — no — alas  !  thou  must 
be  slain !'  he  said  sorrowfully.  Then  suddenly  added 
firmly, 

"'Prepare  thyself  for  the  sacrifice,  my  daughter!' 

"'Not  now — oh,  not  here,  my  father!'  she  thrillingty 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      137 

cried  as  he  drew  his  sword  and  made  a  sign  to  her  to 
kneel!  <  Thine  oath  named  not  the  hour!  I  will  not 
shrink — oh  no,  I  will  not  shrink  from  the  death !  But 
spare  me  two  months,  0  my  father,  to  prepare  myself 
for  the  altar  of  sacrifice  !' 

"Gladly  the  poor  father  caught  at  this  respite  and 
bade  her  go,  and  with  her  maidens  make  ready  to  be 
offered  up,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  a  burnt-offering  to 
God!" 

Here  the  youthful  prophet 'Nathan  paused.  I  had 
listened  with  the  deepest  and  most  painful  interest  to  hia 
narrative. 

"Was  this  beautiful  virgin  sacrificed  by  her  father  ?"  1 
asked. 

"Alas,  yes!"  he  answered  sadly.  "She  at  once  came 
hither  to  stay  until  the  expiration  of  the  two  months, 
during  which  time  she  lodged  here  in  this  place  with  her 
friends;  save  that  every  day  she  would  go  into  the  groves 
of  the  hills,  which  you  behold  near  the  city, where  a  holy 
prophetess  dwelt,  and  lament  in  touching  songs  her  fate, 
to  be  doomed  to  die  so  young!  for  life  was  naturally 
dear  to  her.  She  also  prayed  much  there,  and  sought  to 
consecrate  herself  with  the  aid  of  the  prophetess  by 
prayer  and  fasting  for  the  sacrifice.  At  length  the  day 
came  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  dreadful  vow  made  by  her 
father !  He  had  passed  the  intervening  time  in  his  house 
at  Mizpeh  clothed  in  sackcloth,  and  spoke  to  no  man 
for  nearly  three-score  days.  Then  came  he  hither  and 
in  the  little  vale  which  you  behold  from  this  angle  of  the 
\vall  he  erected  an  altar  with  his  own  hands.  In  this  room 
before  you  the  hapless  virgin  was  attired  for  the  sacri 
fice  in  robes  of  pure  white,  wearing  on  her  head  a  crown 


138  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

of  white  roses.  She  went  firmly  forth  at  the  hour  of 
evening  sacrifice,  descending  with  her  train  of  weeping 
maidens  through  the  gate  of  the  court  below,  and  so  across 
the  hill  which  you  now  see  covered  with  olive-trees,  and 
thence  entered  into  the  vale.  By  the  altar  stood  the 
dark  and  stern  father,  his  drawn  sword  in  his  hand ! 
He  appeared  like  a  marble  statue  rather  than  a  living 
man.  Thousands  looked  on  in  religious  awe  from  the 
walls  and  hillsides. 

"  The  sweet  victim,  embracing  her  young  friends,  re 
leased  herself  from  their  clinging  arms,  and  approaching 
her  father,  would  have  knelt  before  him  for  his  blessing ; 
but  he  forbade  her  with  a  gesture,  and  said,  i  Let  me 
kneel  and  ask  thy  forgiveness,  0  dear  lamb,  for  my  rash 
vow,  and  for  the  deed  my  hand  must  do  in  its  fulfillment 
this  day ! ' 

"He  knelt  down  before  her,  all  the  while  keeping  his 
eyes  turned  away  that  he  might  not  look  on  her  face, 
and  she  placed  gently  and  lovingly  her  folded  hands 
upon  his  head,  and  said, 

"  <I  have  nothing  to  forgive  my  father  !  I  die  for  my 
country's  victory,  and  for  thy  honor  before  God  and  the 
people  of  Israel!  Now,  farewell !' 

"For  a  moment  she  rested  in  his  arms,  then  kissed  his 
forehead,  and  gently  disengaging  herself,  with  a  firm 
step  ascended  the  altar.  He  rose  and  followed  her — tot 
tered  to  her  side  like  a  man  overcome  of  wine — and  as  she 
kneeled  in  an  attitude  of  prayer  upon  the  wood  laid  for 
the  burnt-offering,  he  sheathed  his  glittering  sword  in  her 
snow-white  bosom;  then  kindling  the  fagots  with  his 
torch,  he  fell  to  the  earth  insensible,  and  lay  there  as  one 
dead." 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM. 

"  It  is  a  sad,  sad  tale,"  I  said,  perceiving  that  the 
prophet  was  silent.  "Did  the  father  live?" 

"  lie  never  smiled  again !  He  lived  a  few  melancholy 
years,  weary  of  existence,  and  unfit  for  war  or  rule,  and 
died  the  sixth  year  after  his  fatal  victory,  at  Gilead,  where 
he  was  buried,  for  he  never  entered  this  house  of  Naioth 
in  Ramah  after  her  death.  His  head  reposes  upon  an 
urn  containing  the  ashes  of  liis  lovely  victim!" 

I  thanked  my  intelligent  guide  for  this  touching  narra 
tive,  and  surveyed  with  renewed  and  tender  interest  the 
room  consecrated  by  the  last  presence  on  earth  of  the 
hapless,  yet  amiable,  courageous,  and  pious  Phigenia. 

We  then  continued  our  way  out  of  the  city  to  the  hill- 
tower,  from  the  lofty  top  of  which  I  beheld  for  the  first 
time  the  mighty  Sea  of  the  West.  My  emotions  deprived 
me  of  speech !  I  could  only  gaze  with  wonder  and-  awe ! 
How  shall  I  describe  the  spectacle,  to  give  your  majesty 
an  idea  of  its  sublimity  and  illimitable  grandeur !  It  ap 
peared  to  my  eye  as  if  I  could  see  off  the  earth  into 
boundless  space ;  for  the  sea  and  sky  were  both  of  the 
same  azure  tint,  and  the  meeting  line  of  water  and  air 
was  not  perceptible.  There  was  in  fact  no  visible  hori 
zon!  The  far  distant  strand  of  Palestina,  full  twelve 
leagues  west  of  us,  but  more  by  the  roads,  seemed  the 
jagged  edge  of  the  world!  I  never  experienced  before 
Buch  ideas  of  vastness  and  remoteness.  The  atmosphere 
was  pure  as  crystal.  As  the  sun  declined,  the  narrow 
belt  of  sea  became  silvered  with  its  light,  and  looked  like 
a  brilliant  river  without  a  farther  shore  flowing  around 
the  verge  of  the  world!  Your  majesty  must  pardon  a 
little  enthusiasm  in  one  who  beholds,  such  a  sight,  for  tho 
first  time  ! 


140  THE   THRONE    OP   DAVID;    OK, 

My  guide,  whose  grace  of  manners,  gentleness  of 
speech,  and  intelligent  conversation,  attracted  me  more 
and  more  towards  him,  and  who  seemed  to  have  a  pro 
found  acquaintance  with  his  country's  history,  and  to 
know  how  to  instruct  without  ostentation,  now  directed 
my  attention  to  the  surrounding  scenes.  In  one  direc 
tion  he  pointed  to  where  Joppa  lay,  a  famous  seaport, 
but  not  in  sight ;  gave  me  the  names  of  the  mountains 
which  we  stood  upon,  those  all  about  us,  and  indicated 
with  his  hand  the  direction  of  Hebron,  south.  The 
valley  of  the  Jordan,  the  dark  mountains  of  Nebo  beyond, 
and,  also,  the  Sea  of  Sodoma  lay  to  the  east. 

On  our  return  from  the  summit,  we  crossed  the  little 
valley  of  the  sacrifice  of  Phigenia,  called  the  "  the  Yale 
of  the  Oath."  It  was  a  gloomy  spot,  overhung  with  rocks 
on  one  side,  and  deserted  even  by.  flocks  and  herds ;  and 
since  that  day,  one  hundred  years  ago,  no  man  has  tilled 
or  sown  thereon  !  I  stopped  near  a  pile  of  stones,  half 
buried  and  covered  with  wild  vines  and  moss.  It  was 
the  remains  of  the  altar  of  Jeptha !  left  as  a  lasting  monu 
ment  of  his  rash  vow !  On  our  walk  we  had  just  passed 
a  beautiful  garden,  when  we  came  to  a  large  mausoleum 
all  in  ruins,  and  apparently  of  great  age.  Perceiving 
that  I  regarded  it  with  interest,  the  prophet  said, 

"  This  is  called  the  tomb  of  Joshua !  But  there  is 
another  sepulchre  in  the  rocky  sides  of  the  mount  of 
Bethel,  which  is  also  claimed  by  the  Benjaminites  as  hig 
burial-place.  There  is  no  doubt  that  this  was  erected 
as  a  sepulchre  for  one  of  the  ancient  Canaanitish  kings, 
and  his  coffin  removed  by  the  conquerors ;  doubtless  the 
body  of  Joshua  was  placed  here !  At  least  tradition, 
which  is  history  to  us,  gives  its  testimony  to  this  effect. 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  141 

While  I  was  meditating  upon  the  spot,  and  recalling  the 
glorious  career  of  the  Hebrew  conqueror,  and  the  ingra 
titude  of  his  nation  in  permitting  his  sepulchre  to  perish, 
or  to  be  in  doubt  as  to  the  place  of  his  burial,  the  He 
brew  prince  and  the  young  harpist  of  the  School  of  the 
Prophets  appeared  walking  in  the  path,  side  by  side.  The 
prince  at  once  joined  me,  excusing  himself  for  neglecting 
me.  I  replied,  I  had  been  in  good  hands,  and  had  de 
rived  much  information  from  my  companion. 

"In  that  case,"  said  the  prince,  smiling,  "  lAvill  not  take 
any  blame  to  myself.  My  lord  Arbaces,  this  is  my  friend 
David  of  Bethlehem,  of  the  School  of  the  Prophets  !" 

The  youth,  who  had  just  asked  of  Nathan  some  question, 
met  my  salutation  with  modest  frankness,  blushing  like  a 
maiden;  evidence  of  a  right  and  noble  disposition,  and  of  an 
ingenuous  nature  uncorruptcd  by  the  world.  I  could  not 
but  regard  with  admiration  his  extraordinary  beauty,  of 
which  I  have  bcfore^poken  !  lie  seemed  a  superior  being, 
especially  when  I  recalled  his  wonderful  performance  on 
the  harp,  and  his  voice  so  rich  with  melody  and  pathos. 
Here  a  fourth  person  joined  us,  a  young  man  in  the  dress 
of  the  School.  His  name  was  Asaph,  and  he  brought  a 
message  to  the  prince  from  the  Seer.  We  all  went  to 
wards  the  palace  together,  when  I  parted  with  the  intel 
ligent  prophet,  expressing  warmly  my  obligations  to  his 
courtesy,  for  he  had  given  me  full  four  hours  of  his  time. 
The  handsome  Bethlehemite  also  left  us  at  the  foot  of  the 
terrace,  the  prince  taking  his  hand,  on  separating,  with  the 
aifectionate  manner  of  a  twin-brother. 

It  was  my  privilege  to  occupy  the  same  apartment 
with  the  royal  prince.  When  I  seated  myself  to  recover 
from  the  fatigue  of  my  walk,  I  related  to  him  what  I 


142  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;  OR, 

had  seen  and  heard.  We  discussed  the  conduct  of  Jael 
in  slaying  Sisera:  the  prince  giving  it  as  his  opinion  that 
"she  was  justifiable  as  he  was  an  enemy  of  God;  as  in 
permitting  him  to  go  in  safety  she  would  have  been  con 
demned  as  an  enemy  to  her  people:  she  had  no  alter 
native  but  to  do  as  she  did."  On  the  contrary,  I  con 
tended,  your  majesty,  that  the  rights  of  hospitality  are 
always  sacred;  and  the  enemy  who  seeks  protection 
under  its  shield  cannot  be  harmed  by  the  host  without 
crime. 

Of  the  fatal  vow  of  Jeptha  we  also  spoke.  I  said  that 
"a  rash  vow  is  a  great  wrong  ;  but  if  it  involve  a  greater 
wrong,  the  least  of  the  evils  should  be  chosen.  He  had 
better  have  been  perjured,  than  for  his  oath's  sake  com 
mit  a  crime  which  has  no  parallel. 

"Your  God,  my  noble  prince,"  I  added,  "would 
rather  have  forgiven  the  vow  than  received  the  unnatural 
sacrifice." 

"  As  Jeptha  alone  was  guilty, "  said  tfc  prince,  "  he  alone 
should  have  been  the  sufferer.  He  ought  to  have  sacri 
ficed  himself  rather  than  the  innocent  Phigenia !  Sui 
cide  is  a  crime,  and  so  is  murder  !  He  could  have  chosen 
between  the  two  !  But  she  has  left  to  the  world  a  noble 
and  touching  memory,  and  a  sublime  example  of  filial 
obedience  and  piety.  Her  sacrifice  has  made  her  im 
mortal." 

After  two  days  passed  as  guest  of  the  venerable  Seer> 
at  whose  feet  I  also  sat  with  his  School  of  youthful  pro 
phets  to  listen  to  the  words  of  wisdom  that  fell  from  his 
lips,  I  at  length  bade  him  farewell  arid  received,  kneel 
ing,  his  blessing.  He  desired  me  to  convey  to  your  ma 
jesty  his  remembrances,  and  to  ask  you  to  rea;l  a  copy 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      143 

of  the  sacred  books  of  his  people  which  he  has  presented 
to  me  for  your  acceptance.  lie  says  your  reign  will  be 
happy  and  prosperous  if  you  continue  just  and  virtuous, 
but  that  sins  and  oppression  in  kings  (evils  happily  un 
known  in  your  majesty's  rule)  are  more  severely  punished 
by  the  God  of  the  heaven  and  earth  than  the  transgres 
sions  of  other  men  !  That  "  kings  are  vicegerents  of 
the  supreme  King  on  high,  and  should  rule  with  equity 
and  judgment."  He  showed  me  how  all  the  wars  in 
which  his  nation  have  been  involved  were  actual  scourges 
of  their  God  sent  upon  them  for  national  transgressions. 

Having  taken  a  kind  leave,  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs,  of 
my  intelligent  friend  Nathan,  who  promises  to  become  a 
leading  man  among  his  countrymen,  young  David  came 
forward  to  me  and  grasping  my  hand  said,  in  a  manly 
way  and  with  graceful  dignity: 

"I  am  sorry,  my  lord  prince,  you  have  come  to  find 
our  country  troubled  by  the  hordes  of  the  Philistines, 
whose  presence  wilf  perhaps  prevent  you  from  going,  at 
present,  farther  south  than  Solima  or  Hebron.  News 
are  come  within  an  hour  that  they  even  menace  this 
place." 

The  prince  had  already  heard  the  tidings,  and  ridden 
to  the  gate  to  learn  their  origin.  There  I  found  him 
not  long  returned  from  a  visit  of  filial  duty  to  his  mother 
at  Bethel,  surrounded  by  the  captains  and  officers  of  the 
garrison.  I  learned  that  an  army  of  four  thousand  men 
was  within  ten  leagues  of  Ramah,  having  already  occupied 
several  towns  on  their  route.  The  prince  promptly  sent  a 
force  of  eight  hundred  men  to  defend  a  pass  in  the  moun 
tains  of  Ephraim,  made  some  valuable  suggestions  to  the 
general  who  commanded  in  those  parts,  and  at  length, 


144  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

rode  forward  with  me  on  the  way  to  Hebron,  his  own 
and  my  body-guard  escorting  us. 

On  our  way  we  passed  the  rocky  heights  of  Solima 
with  a  bold  castle  crowning  the  southern  eminence,  still 
held  by  a  pagan  garrison  of  Jebusites  ;  the  place  having 
withstood  since  the  days  of  Joshua  the  assaults  of  the 
Hebrews.  There  it  towered  in  strength  and  pride,  an 
inaccessible  fortress  of  the  ancient  masters  of  the  land 
in  the  very  heart  of  the  kingdom.  Your  majesty  may 
suppose  that  I  gazed  upward  towards  its  frowning  bat 
tlements  with  deep  interest,  from  the  narrow  valley 
which  it  overhangs  and  through  which  we  traveled. 
Upon  my  expressing  my  surprise  to  the  prince  that  so 
small  a  castle  should  have  held  out  for  more  than  four 
hundred  years,  he  said  that  it  was  formerly  the  citadel 
of  the  chief  city  of  the  land,  Solima,  once  the  capital  of 
the  kingdom  of  a  wise  and  virtuous  Syrian  prince,  Mel- 
chisedek,  and  that  Joshua  conquered  the  city  itself,  but 
left  the  citadel  to  be  subsequently  and  at  leisure  reduced  ; 
but  other  places  demanding  his  attention,  it  remained 
unattacked  up  to  the  time  of  his  death ;  and  since  then, 
though  often  assailed,  it  has  never  been  conquered.  The 
garrison  is  however  peaceful,  and  seldom  molests  our 
people. 

The  same  day  we  passed  across  a  portion  of  the  plain 
of  Mamre  before  Hebron,  where  the  three  great  Kings, 
Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  lay  buried  in  the  cave  of 
Machpelah;  which  interesting  spot  I  have  visited  since  I 
arrived  here.  In  it  also  reposes  the  embalmed  body  of 
the  eminent  and  virtuous  Prince  Joseph,  once  governor 
of  Egypt,  who,  at  his  dying,  commanded  the  Hebrews  to 
bring  it  with  them  from  the  land  of  the  Phara  )bs  and 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       145 

here  bury  it ;  thus  singularly  prophesying  not  only  their 
departure  from.  Egypt,  but  their  conquest  of  this  land. 

In  the  plain  of  Mamre  I  found  encamped  my  caravan, 
and  retinue  of  Assyrian  soldiers.  The  next  morning  I 
entered  the  city,  and  was  conducted  by  the  Hebrew 
prince  into  the  presence  of  King  Saul. 

Your  faithful 

ARBACES. 


146         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 


LETTER    Y. 
ABBACES,  THE  AMBASSADOR 

To  BELTJS,  KING  OF  ASSYRIA. 

AMBASSADOR'S  CAMP,  PLAIN  OP  MAMRE,  BEFORE  HEBRON- 
MY   DEAR   COUSIN   AND   KlNG  : 

THE  city  before  which  I  am  encamped,  your  majesty, 
is  one  of  the  oldest  in  this  part  of  the  earth,  even  older 
than  ancient  Tanis,  once  the  capital  of  the  northern 
Egyptian  realm.  It  is  said  to  have  been  founded  by  a 
giant  named  Habro,  or  Hebra,  of  the  race  of  the  old 
kings  of  Palestina.  When  Joshua  conquered  the  land, 
it  was  the  stronghold  of  a  Canaanitish  king,  who  himself 
was  of  gigantic  stature,  of  the  family  of  Anakim. 

It  is  built  upon  a  bold  and  rocky  hill,  and  looks  with 
its  lofty  battlements,  immense  walls,  and  strongly  founded 
towers,  to  be  impregnable.  Hence  the  king  has  recently 
selected  it  to  become  the  capital  of  his  kingdom,  when 
he  shall  have  completed  his  palace,  and  strengthened  and 
enlarged  its  fortifications.  It  is  partially  encircled  by 
the  vale  of  Machpelah,  a  portion  of  the  valley  of  Mamre, 
of  which  with  its  gardens,  and  white  flat-roofed  villages, 
and  groves  of  palm  trees,  and  enclosures  of  fig,  pome 
granate,  and  apricot  trees,  it  commands  a  noble  view. 
Around  this  vale  stand  precipitous  hills,  which  are  sepa 
rated  by  deep  passes,  that  approach  close  to  the  walls  in 


THE    REBELLION?    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  147 

one  direction;  but  a  small  number  of  soldiers  can  prevent 
an  enemy  from  penetrating  through  them  to  the  city. 
Without  doubt  it  will  be  made  by  the  monarch  the 
strongest  city  in  this  extraordinary  kingdom  of  walled 
and  battlemented  towns  and  garrisons. 

I  regret  to  have  to  inform  your  majesty  that  the  ap 
prehensions  of  the  prince  are  realized.  The  Philistines 
have  actually  thrown  out  their  advanced  troops  so  far  as 
to  cover  the  road  towards  Egypt,  and  intercept  all  travel 
in  that  direction.  They  have  a  two-fold  motive,  per 
haps,  both  to  plunder  caravans  and  cut  off  supplies  from 
King  Saul  in  Hebron.  I  shall,  therefore,  be  under  tho 
necessity  of  remaining  here  until  a  battle  is  fought,  and 

*/  O  O 

the  way  opened;  which  I  trust  will  be  in  a  very  few 
days. 

The  king  is  diligently  assembling  his  army,  and  the 
prince  is  active  in  lending  his  efficient  aid.  In  case  of 
an  attack  upon  these  troublesome  foes,  I  shall  not  with 
hold  my  services  and  those  of  my  battalion  of  Assyrians 
A  spy  reports  that  the  force  south  of  Hebron  numbers 
ten  thousand  men,  which  evidently  intend  some  important 
movement.  The  king  is  strengthening  the  city  at  every 
point,  and  troops  are  pouring  in  from  all  parts  of  the 
kingdom,  brave  looking  men,  but  poorly  armed :  for  this 
nation  has  not  yet  recovered  from  the  loss  of  all  its  arms 
in  the  early  days  of  Samuel,  when  the  Philistines,  mas 
tering  the  country,  took  away  from  it  every  sword,  spear, 
battle-axe,  and  weapon  of  war.  The  little  intercourse 
of  the  Hebrews  with  other  countries,  and  the  total  ab 
sence  of  commerce  among  them,  has  been  an  obstacle 
to  their  replacement.  Almost  the  first  inquiry  made  of 
me  by  King  Saul,  after  I  was  presented  to  him,  was,  "  if 


148  THE   TURONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

arms  in  abundance  were  in  Assyria,  and  if  your  majesty 
would  permit  your  merchants  to  sell  one  hundred  thou 
sand  weapons  of  all  arms  to  the  Hebrews  ?" 

Courage  and  zeal  will  not  effect  much  in  war  without 
serviceable  weapons.  The  profound  policy  of  the  Philis 
tines  in  disarming  their  conquered  foes  is  now  clearly  ap 
parent.  An  hour  since  a  thousand  Hebrews  marched 
past  towards  the  town.  Not  half  of  them  were  armed 
in  a  soldierly  manner;  and  these  not  uniformly;  while 
the  rest  either  carried  sharpened  bits  of  iron  or  steel 
secured  to  the  ends  of  staves,  or  shouldered  reaping 
hooks ;  and,  indeed,  many  of  the  swords  I  saw  had  been 
rudely  shaped  out  of  sickles  and  scythes.  An  army, 
thus  imperfectly  armed,  however  brave  the  material,  can 
not  have  confidence  in  itself  on  the  field.  The  Philis 
tines,  on  the  contrary,  are  well  harnessed  for  battle;  are 
mailed  in  iron,  and  defended  by  helm  and  cuirass.  Be 
sides,  they  have  battalions  of  chariots  of  iron  with  broad, 
i  curved  knives  secured  to  the  ends  of  the  axles,  while  their 

I  horsemen  are  numbered  by  thousands,  all  clad  in  panoply 
of  steel,  and  wielding  formidable  lances.  Moreover, 
they  have,  as  I  am  told  by  the  Hebrews,  a  body-guard  of 
one  hundred  giants,  sons  of  Anak,  who  attend  their  king 
,who  is  also  a  gigantic  warrior,  six  cubits  or  more  in 
•height  or  nearly  ten  feet !  He  is  with  the  main  army 
west  of  this,  so  report  the  spies,  encamped  in  a  large 
plain  which  is  darkened  by  his  countless  hosts.  The  di 
vision  south  of  us  I  have  seen ;  for,  doubting  the  accu 
racy  of  the  observations  of  the  men  of  Beersheba,  who 
brought  the  report  that  they  held  the  southern  high-road, 
and  resolved,  if  the  way  should  appear  to  be  at  all  open, 
to  strike  my  camp  and  advance,  without  ail  hour's  delay, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      149 

rapidly  towards  Egypt  before  it  should  be  wholly  closed 
against  me,  I  took  fifty  men  with  me  immediately,  and 
started  off  in  that  direction.  After  four  hours'  riding  I 
reached  an  elevation  over  which  the  road  wound,  and  be 
neath  me  saw  a  sight  which  confirmed  the  report,  and  de 
pressed  my  hopes  of  being  able,  for  some  time  at  least, 
to  continue  my  journey  in  the  direction  of  the  Nile.  In  a 
narrow  plain,  across  the  green  bosom  of  which  wound  the 
yellow,  dusty  high-way  towards  Egypt,  stretched  the  long, 
white  line  of  the  camp  of  the  thousands  of  the  Philistines. 
Their  number  had  been  exaggerated,  as  I  perceived  there 
could  not  be,  in  all,  more  than  five  thousand  men.  As 
my  eyes  fell  upon  them,  they  were  going  through  military 
evolutions.  Chariots  in  long  lines  were  wheeling  across 
the  plain ;  bodies  of  cavalry  charged  hither  and  thither ; 
men-at-arms  in  columns  were  marched  and  counter 
marched;  bowmen  were  discharging  flights  of  arrows, 
and  spearmen  throwing  their  long  weapons  at  im 
aginary  adversaries.  Banners  fluttered,  plumes  tossed, 
swords  flashed,  helmets  gleamed,  lance-points  glittered 
in  the  sun.  and  the  noise  of  the  chariot  wheels,  the  loud 
thump  of  hoofs,  the  tramp  of  many  running  feet,  the 
wild  shouts  of  the  chiefs,  and  wilder  answering  cries  of  the 
soldiers  filled  the  air ;  while  over  the  strange  and  warlike 
scene  rolled  clouds  of  dust  reflecting  a  hue  of  gold  from 
the  beams  of  the  setting  sun ! 

I  turned  away  satisfied  that,  if  this  were  the  high-way 
down  to  Egypt,  I  must  be  content  for  a  short  time  to 
remain  encamped  in  the  beautiful  vale  of  Mamre. 

I  have  since  learned  that  by  retracing  my  way  to  the 
Jordan  and  rccrossing  that  river,  I  can  gain  the  wilder 
ness  of  Moab  and  Edorn,  and  by  a  longer  route  of  great 


150  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;  OR, 

hardship,  through  a  country  of  dangerous  and  fierce  peo 
ple,  whose  hand  is  against  all  men,  ultimately  reach 
Egypt.  I  would,  far  rather  than  risk  this  route  with  ita 
increased  distance,  cut  my  way,  0  king,  with  my  thou 
sand  brave  guard  through  the  camp  of  the  Philistines. 
I  shall  remain  here  a  few  days  and  see  what  will  be  the 
issue.  We  have  already  been  detained  nearly  one  week, 
and  are  all  impatient  at  this  delay,  which  I  trust  will  soon 
terminate. 

I  will  now  recount  to  your  majesty  the  particulars  of 
my  interview  with  the  Hebrew  monarch.  The  day  fol 
lowing  my  arrival  at  my  camp,  the  prince,  who  had  left 
me  the  evening  previous  to  hasten  to  the  presence  of  his 
royal  father,  came  out  to  my  tent  and  said  that  King 
Saul  desired  then  to  see  me.  Passing  on  foot  through 
the  massive  portals  of  the  city  which  was  crowded  with 
troops,  I  accompanied  the  prince  along  a  street  narrow 
and  steep,  which  seemed  to  be  lined  alone  with  stone  bar 
racks  for  the  accommodation  of  the  garrison.  Beyond 
these  we  entered  a  fine  square  surrounded  by  various 
castellated  edifices,  with  towers  intermingled,  and  all  an 
cient  and  imposing  in  appearance.  This  square  was 
filled  with  illy-armed  Hebrew  soldiers,  who  were  being 
drilled  by  their  captains,  while  on  every  side  from  the 
inner  courts  was  heard  the  sound  of  forging-hammers 
beating  iron  into  weapons  of  war.  Crossing  this  ani 
mated  place  we  traversed  a  short  street  which  led  into 
a  noble  court-yard,  on  two  sides  of  which  were  fair  gar 
dens  ;  the  third  was  open  to  the  plain  of  Mamre  with 
its  verdant  valleys  and  cliif-like  mountains,  while  the 
fourth  was  occupied  by  a  half-erected  palace  on  which 
numerous  workmen  were  employed.  Near  it  stood  the 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE   ABSALOM.  151 

Hebrew  architect,  whom  five  days  before  I  had  parted 
with  at  the  cross-ways  where  we  fell  in  with  the  caravan 
from  the  far-south  land  of  Sheba.  The  palace-builder 
recognizing  me,  saluted  me  with  dignity,  and  desired  us 
to  admire  his  noble  building,  which,  being  in  good  taste 
and  admirably  proportioned,  I  praised  as  it  deserved, 
when  he  remarked  "  that  after  it  should  be  completed  it 
would  surpass  all  other  palaces  in  the  world."  I  could 
not  but  smile,  your  majesty,  at  this  little  exhibition  of 
vanity  when  I  recalled  the  one  hundred  and  seventy 
superb  palaces  within  the  walls  of  Nineveh,  the  least  of 
which  is  more  noble  and  beautiful  than  any  edifice  I  have 
seen  in  this  land,  and  especially  when  I  thought  upon  the 
magnificence  of  the  "Palace  of  the  Kings,"  half  a  league 
square,  and  your  royal  mother's  alabaster  palace,  its 
roof  of  beaten  gold,  and  its  columns  of  silver,  marble, 
and  cedar-wood,  inlaid  with  ivory  and  pearl! 

Thence  we  proceeded  towards  a  singular  tower  very 
large  and  square  at  the  base,  and  rounded  at  the  top 
with  an  iron  gate  leading  into  it. 

"  That  is  the  'house  of  shelter'  for  men-slayers  when 
they  fly  red-handed  to  this  place  from  the  avenger  of 
blood,"  said  the  prince;  "for Hebron  is  one  of  the  cities 
of  refuge.  This  is  their  abode  at  night,  made  secure  to 
protect  them  from  secret  assassination  should  their  ad 
versary  steal  into  the  city  to  slay  them.  In  the  day 
they  go  about  their  occupations  like  others.  Thou  sefist 
at  the  grated  window  one  of  the  fugitives  whose  pale  face 
shows  he  is  too  ill  to-day  to  be  abroad." 

At  length  the  prince  stopped  before  the  portal  of  a 
low  wall  which,  from  the  appearance  of  the  foliage  rising 
above  it,  enclosed  a  garden.  A  sentry  in  a  coat  of 


152  THE    THROVE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

mail  and  iron  head-piece,  and  armed  with  a  battle-axe, 
paced  to  and  fro  in  front  of  it,  while  two  other  Hebrew 
soldiers  similarly  accoutred,  stood  within  the  entrance 
also  on  guard.  Upon  beholding  the  prince,  the  sentinel 
saluted ;  and  we  passed  into  a  spacious  area  paved  wi  th 
stone,  and  containing  a  fountain,  shaded  by  a  single  palm 
tree.  Opposite  to  the  entrance  I  saw  a  large  stone 
edifice,  which  seemed  like  most  of  the  public  edifices  in 
this  land,  to  have  been  once  a  temple  or  palace  of  the 
ancient  Canaanites.  Between  a  double  row  of  trees, 
chiefly  the  oleander  and  myrtle,  with  here  and  there  a 
ilowering  acacia,  we  approached  this  mansion. 

In  the  massive  and  carved  old  door- way  stood  two  men- 
at-arms,  tall,  strong,  mountaineer-looking  fellows,  armed 
with  short  swords.  They  wore  helmets  with  a  low  crest, 
bright  red  tunics,  corslets  of  steel,  or  cuirasses  of  polished 
iron,  or  of  thick  leather,  gilt  and  embossed ;  with  greaves 
of  brass:  altogether  a  singular  armor!  These  soldiers 
were  of  the  tribe  of  Gad,  and  a  part  of  the  king's  body 
guard;  bold,  fighting  looking  men,  and  would  evidently 
do  their  work  thoroughly  on  the  field  of  battle.  They 
did  homage  to  the  presence  of  my  princely  companion,  who 
conducted  me  to  a  broad  stair-case,  so  shallow  that  I  was 
not  surprised  subsequently  to  hear  that  the  king,  in  one 
of  the  fits  of  madness  that  sometimes  come  upon  him,  had 
once  spurred  up  them  on  horseback. 

At  the  top  of  the  stairs  we  came  upon  a  wide  corridor, 
at  the  end  of  which  was  a  door,  where  also  stood  a  sen 
tinel.  Many  persons  were  walking  up  and  down  this 
entry,  or  ante-chamber,  waiting  for  audience.  Some 
were  chief  captains  in  full  armor;  others,  elders  of  the 
city  in  flowing  beards  and  long  robes;  others,  citizens  )f 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       153 

distinction,  richly  attired;  others,  persons  who  came  to  sue 
for  mercy  or  for  justice,  or  to  present  petitions.  To  all 
of  these  the  prince,  in  returning  their  respectful  salutes, 
spoke  a  word,  now  of  promise,  now  of  hope,  now  of  sym 
pathy,  now  of  confidence.  Among  them  whom  should  I 
discover  but  the  governor  of  Jericho,  who  had  just  arrived 
in  obedience  to  a  summons  from  the  king?  lie  recog 
nized,  and  met  me  with  great  cordiality,  and  when  I  asked 
after  his  fair  daughter  Adora,  the  greatest  heiress  and 
most  beautiful  virgin  in  Israel,  of  whom  I  have  before 
written  to  your  majesty,  lie  answered  that  he  had  brought 
her  with  him,  and  that  she  was  at  the  house  of  his 
brother,  the  captain  of  the  city.  Upon  hearing  this  news, 
I  must  confess  to  your  majesty  that  I  was  not  a  little 
gratified ;  for  the  presence  of  so  charming  a  person 
would  serve  greatly  to  relieve  the  tedium  of  my  compul 
sory  stay  at  Hebron ;  for  at  Jericho  I  saw  her  often  at 
the  house  of  the  chief  governor  and  elder,  her  father,  and 
learned  to  esteem  them  both  as  valued  friends. 

"Does  the  king  know  thou  art  in  waiting?"  asked 
Jonathan  of  him. 

"  I  have  sent  in  word  by  the  chief  chamberlain,  your 
highness,  about  an  hour  ago,"  he  replied. 

"  I  will  recall  you  to  his  mind.  Is  thy  business  press- 
Ing,  my  lord?"  he  continued,  addressing  the  noble  look 
ing  governor. 

"  It  may  be  to  his  majesty.  He  desires  to  hire  sixty 
talents  of  gold  for  this  war  !  I  am  here  to  say  that  I 
and  my  friends  can  oblige  him  with  it  all !" 

"  I  rejoice  to  hear  it,  my  good  governor  !  I  know  my 
father  needs  money  to  pay  his  army.  With  your  kind 
aid  all  will  go  favorably !  I  will  let  him  know  you  wait." 


154  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Here  I  overheard  a  low  voice  say  to  some  one,  "  Ho 
will  see  no  one  to-day,  I  fear.  The  dark  spirit  is  upon 
him." 

"  Will  my  lord  of  Assur  do  me  the  honor  to  dine  to 
morrow  with  me  and  my  daughter  at  my  brother's  ?"  asked 
the  governor  of  me,  as  we  were  passing  on. 

"  I  will  gladly  accept  your  excellency's  invitation,"  I 
replied ;  "for  all  my  time  hangs  on  my  hands.  I  only 
fear  you  will  see  me  too  often  !" 

"  Do  not  fear  that,  my  lord  Arbaces,"  answered  the 
stately  and  handsome  Hebrew  ruler,  smiling. 

We  passed  by  the  sentinel,  and  entering,  I  found  myself 
in  a  large  and  beautiful  apartment  adorned  with  sculpture. 
Gilded  panels,  enriched  by  painted  flowers,  were  set 
between  ranges  of  columns  of  polished  marble,  inlaid  with 
ivory  and  colored  woods,  and  burnished  to  the  hardness 
of  porphyry.  At  the  lower  end  were  hangings  of  various 
colors  richly  variegated  with  needle-work ;  and  the  ceiling 
was  decorated  to  represent  the  azure  vault  of  heaven 
studded  with  stars  of  gold.  The  opposite  extremity  of  this 
noble  room  was  filled  by  a  throne  elevated  three  steps  above 
the  floor,  and  overhung  by  a  splendid  canopy  of  cloth 
of  gold.  Behind  the  throne,  which  was  a  magnificent 
chair  of  ivory,  inlaid  with  devices  in  silver,  and  covered 
by  Tyrian  velvet  of  a  dark  purple  hue,  enriched  by  nee 
dle-work,  was  a  great  window  through  which  came  blow 
ing  the  cool  breezes  from  the  mountains  of  Adoniram, 
which  were  visible  not  far  off  with  their  rugged  shoul 
ders  and  dark  brown  sides,  dotted  with  flocks  and  herds. 

The  throne  was  vacant.  On  each  side  of  it  stood  a 
tall,  bearded  man  in  steel  armor,  leaning  upon  a  long 
two-edged  sword  that  shone  like  silver.  In  front,  kneel* 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM      155 

ing  upon  an  embroidered  cushion,  was  an  Ethiopian  page, 
richly  attired,  who  seemed  patiently  to  await  orders  to  go 
and  come.  By  a  column,  on  which  was  fastened  a  leaf 
of  brass  as  a  writing-table,  stood  a  long-haired  secretary 
without  a  beard,  his  reed  in  his  hand,  and  his  silver  ink- 
horn  hanging  at  his  girdle  that  bound,  by  a  gold  buckle, 
the  long  blue  gown  which  he  wore  beneath  a  short,  green 
tunic.  He  was  not  writing,  but  engaged  in  conversation 
with  a  gorgeously  clothed  and  pompous-looking  chamber 
lain,  who,  with  his  green  wand  in  his  hand,  was  awaiting 
the  commands  of  the  monarch. 

Walking  at  great  strides  up  and  down  the  long  hall, 
his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  floor,  his  arms  folded  across  his 
herculean  chest,  and  his  large,  noble  features  overcast 
with  troubled  thought,  I  beheld  the  king  himself.  It 
could  be  none  other !  It  was  not  necessary  for  the  young 
prince  to  look  at  me  and  say  in  a  low  tone  touched  in 
sorrow : — 

"There  is  my  father!" 

His  majesty  took  no  notice  of  us,  but  walked  by  to 
the  foot  of  the  throne,  and  then  returned  to  the  lower 
end  of  the  room,  thrice,  before  he  seemed  to  be  aware  of 
our  presence  in  his  audience  chamber.  I  had  therefore 
an  opportunity  of  observing  him.  He  was  the  most 
magnificent  looking  man  I  ever  beheld!  Tall,  with 
almost  the  proportions  of  a  splendid  giant;  yet,  from  the 
perfect  symmetry  of  his  limbs,  carrying  himself  with  a 
firm,  graceful,  and  noble  air !  His  head  was  grand ! 
and  covered  with  short  masses  of  curling  locks,  which 
were  black  as  night !  His  ample  forehead  reminded  me 
of  the  godlike  brow  of  the  statue  of  Sardanapalus  in 
front  of  your  majesty's  palace.  He  seemed  to  be  about 


156  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;  OR, 

fifty-six  or  eight  years  of  age,  a  few  silver  threads  woven 
into  his  heavy  beard,  which  covered  only  his  upper  lip 
and  cheeks,  betraying  that  he  had  passed  the  goal  of 
fifty.  He  was  royally  attired  in  a  suit  which  was  half- 
armor,  half-citizen's  costume;  his  majestic  breast  being 
protected  by  a  corslet  curiously  woven  of  silver  chains, 
while  a  silver  helmet  with  a  white  plume  flowing  around 
the  golden  crest  covered  his  head.  Over  his  broad, 
kingly  shoulders  was  thrown  a  short  crimson  mantle 
ciasped  by  a  pair  of  steel  lion's  claws.  A  short  dagger 
was  stuck,  unsheathed,  in  a  broad  belt  of  leopard's  skin, 
which  confined  his  coat  to  his  waist.  There  was  an  air, 
partly  of  barbaric  splendor  and  partly  of  courtly  ease,  in 
his  appearance  and  bearing.  Without  question,  he  was  a 
man  of  decided  intellectual  character  and  strong  passions, 
with  undoubted  power  over  men,  and  whom  it  would  be 
madness  willfully  to  enrage  or  disobey. 

As  he  paced  up  and  down,  his  great  noble  eyes  wore 
a  sorrowful  and  heavy  look :  they  seemed  to  hold  no  light- 
in  them;  but,  like  mist-hidden  stars,  to  be  under  the 
veil  of  the  cloud  resting  on  his  soul's  horizon!  His 
proud,  fixed  lips,  the  bent  brow,  the  awful  expression  of 
settled  gloom  betrayed  the  strength  of  the  terrible  emo 
tions  which  tore  and  lashed  his  haughty  spirit,  chafed  by 
the  anger  of  his  God  and  the  displeasure  of  the  powerful 
prophet !  It  was  painful  to  gaze  upon  this  wreck  of  the 
once  proud,  ambitious,  and  generous-hearted  king,  of  the 
lion  heart  and  eagle  eye,  who  had  been  chosen,  above  all 
his  fellows,  to  be  anointed  the  first  KING  of  his  ancient 
race !  I  thought  I  could  see  the  storm  rolling  across 
the  darkening  sky  of  his  soul,  as  fiery  thought  after  fiery 
thought  flashed  like  forked  lightnings  from  his  sur- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      157 

charged  brain  at  the  reflection  that  he  was  the  mark  of 
his  God's  wrath,  the  abandoned  of  his  Spirit,  the  victim 
of  his  vengeance !  He  seemed  at  one  moment  to  cower 
under  this  pressure,  and  dropped  his  head  lower  and 
lower ;  but  the  next,  as  1  watched  his  face,  I  thought  I 
could  see  a  look  of  defiant  despair  developing  itself  amid 
the  gloom.  I  was  not  mistaken  !  He  stopped  near  us, 
raised  his  majestic  head  with  an  air  of  fierce  anger,  and 
shaking  his  open  palms  towards  heaven  with  eyes  kind 
ling  he  cried,  with  fearful  emphasis  and  in  appalling 
passionate  tones, 

"  I  defy  the  God  of  Israel !  Sacrifice?  So  I  did  !  Who 
should  let  me?  Was  I  not  priest  as  well  as  king?  'Twas 
not  to  Baal,  nor  to  Ashtaroth,  nor  to  the  gods  of  the  ac 
cursed  Philistines,  I  slew  the  victim,  but  to  the 

What !  art  thou  come,  my  son  ?"  he  suddenly  spoke  in 
a  natural  and  even  tone,  as  at  this  moment  his  eyes 
rested  upon  us  !  The  transition,  from  his  sublime  and 
terrible  appeal  to  heaven  to  this  pleasant  tone  of  voice, 
was  like  magic  most  wonderful.  "  I  did  not  notice  thee ! 
I — 1 — "  here  he  passed  his  hand  slowly  across  his  fore 
head  as  if  collecting  his  thoughts ;  and  the  cloud  slowly 
passed  away,  and  with  a  benign  and  noble,  yet  touching 
voice,  as  if  the  waves  of  emotion  still  trembled  a  little 
even  after  the  dark  simoom  of  passion  had  passed  by,  he 
continued., 

"  I  hope  you  have  not  waited  !  This  youthful  stranger 
is,  I  doubt  not,  the  Prince  Arbaces  of  Assyria !  I  wel 
come  you  to  my  poor  court,  noble  ambassador.  My  son 
has  spoken  of  you  so  favorably  that  I  already  regard 
you  as  a  friend.  I  rejoice  that  you  came  into  Judea ! 
It  is  my  desire  to  hold  relations  of  the  strongest  friend- 


158  THE    TIIROXE    OF    DAVID;  OR, 

ship  with  your  monarch !  At  present  we  are  a  young 
kingdom,  and  it  will  require  time  to  give  us  position  and 
name  among  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth !  I  trust  your 
royal  master,  Belus,  is  well  and  at  peace  in  all  his 
realm. 

"  He  is  well,  your  majesty,"  I  answered,  and  would 
have  sent  a  personal  message  to  you  by  me ;  but  so  in 
frequent  is  the  intercourse  between  my  country  and  the 
west,  and  Belus  has  been  so  short  a  time  on  the  throne, 
that  he  had  not  heard  that  your  people  had  changed  its 
government  to  that  of  a  monarchy;  although  I  have 
learned  that  you  have  been  many  years  king !" 

"Many  years  !"  he  repeated  slightly  frowning,  and 
then  smiled;  "yes.  But  if  not  long  enough  to  have 
made  my  name  known  on  the  Tigris,  I  have  reigned  I 
fear  to  little  purpose ;  for  I  have  not  even  expelled  the 
Philistines  from  my  borders  !  But,  young  prince  of 
Assyria,"  he  added,  stamping  his  foot  with  sudden  fury, 
"  how  can  a  king  reign  and  conquer  and  bless  his  king 
dom,  with  Heaven  armed  against  him,  Hell  leagued  to 
destroy  him,  and  earth's  most  powerful  Seer  hurling 
prophecies  of  evil  upon  his  poor  head  ?" 

"My  dear  father,"  said  Jonathan,  touching  his  arm 
and  speaking  as  tenderly  as  he  would  to  a  child,  "  the 
holy  prophet  holdeth  no  anger !  He  is  but  the  mouth 
of  God!  He  pities  you,  and " 

"Pities!  Samuel  of  Eamah  pity  Saul  the  king? 
The  haughty  prophet  may  beware  !  By  the  head  of  my 
father,  if  he  pities  me,  I  will  slay  him  did  he  cling  for 
safety  to  the  very  wings  of  the  cherubim !" 

This  was  spoken  with  insane  violence.  His  eyes  shot 
forth  fire.  His  face  flushed  with  his  burning  blood! 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      15 

His  whole  mighty  form  was  dilate  with  strong  wrath  ! 
He  foamed  at  the  mouth ;  he  shook  his  clenched  hands 
towards  Ramah  as  if  he  saw  visibly  the  prophet:  he 
laughed  aloud !  He  stood  before  us  a  madman ! 

Suddenly  a  rapid  and  troubled  gesture,  made  by  the 
prince  to  a  distant  part  of  the  hall,  was  answered  by  a 
strain  of  music  upon  a  stringed  instrument,  evidently  from 
unpractised  or  trembling  hands.  The  irate  monarch, 
whose  whole  pride  of  character  had  been  suddenly  and 
sharply  wounded  at  the  idea  that  he  whom  he  regarded  as 
his  enemy  pitied  him,  paused  at  the  sound,  turned  slowly 
towards  it,  and  fixing  his  terrible  eyes,  blazing  with 
supernatural  splendor,  upon  a  gallery  where  two  players 
dressed  in  white  stood  performing,  he  seemed  for  a  moment 
to  be  listening ;  but  a  false  note  being  struck,  he  uttered 
a  shout  of  vengeance  and  scorn,  and  drawing  the  dagger 
at  his  belt,  he  sprung  forward  with  death  to  the  unhappy 
players  in  his  eyes. 

'•Mockest  thou  me  !     Darest  thou?"  he  called  to  the 
unhappy  musicians.     In  a  moment  I  stood  before  him 
It  was  an  act  wholly  impulsive ! 

"Oh,  king,  most  wise  and  good!  Thou  art  too  just 
to  harm  the  innocent,  or  stain  the  purity  of  thy  sceptre 
by  a  deed  of  blood  on  those  poor  harpists,  thy  slaves!" 
I  said  with  a  firmness  and  force,  which  I  am  since  sur 
prised  at,  as  well  as  at  the  result.  For  an  instant,  as  I 
stood  in  his  path,  the  glittering  steel  which  he  held  waved 
in  his  hand,  irresolute  above  my  heart !  I  held  his  blaz 
ing  eyes  steadily  with  mine.  Jonathan  would  have  come 
to  rescue  me  from  what  he  believed  certain  death,  (for 
my  sword  was  undrawn.)  when  with  a  sudden  change  of 
purpose  he  sheathed  again  the  bloodless  steel,  his  face 


160  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

relaxed  its  stern  and  violent  expression,  his  eyes  parted 
with  their  fierce  fire,  and  with  a  look  of  amity  and  re 
gard  he  laid  his  hand  upon  my  arm,  and  said : — 

"  Thou  art  right,  prince  !  Saul  the  man  is  not  so  mad 
that  Saul  the  king  forgets  justice  and  mercy !  I  see 
tliou  dost  not  think  I  am  mad,  like  this  Samuel  and  the 
rest  of  the  Hebrews !  Thou  seest  in  me  only  an  un 
happy  king.  Thy  voice,  I  perceive,  has  neither  pity  nor 
reproach !  I  am  now  calm !  The  dark  spirit  that  at 
times  possesses  my  soul  has  flown !  He  cannot  bear 
words  of  kindness !  Prince,  pardon  my  discourtesy  to 
thee!" 

How  my  heart  bled  for  him  !  Deeply  did  I  sympathize 
with  this  poor  monarch,  who  seems  to  be  cast  down 
with  a  consciousness  of  his  madness,  and  keenly  morti 
fied  by  its  exhibitions  ;  alternately  depressed  by  the  idea 
of  the  displeasure  of  his  God,  and  grieved  at  his  sins 
by  which  he  has  incurred  it ;  now  melancholy  with  de 
spair  of  reconciliation,  now  maddened  by  the  certainty 
that  his  kingdom  is  to  be  taken  from  him,  and  his 
sceptre  given  into  the  grasp  of  a  stranger  !  I  am  sure 
that  your  majesty  will  feel  deeply  for  the  unhappy  Hebrew 
king,  and  that  you  will  wish  that  his  great  punishment 
might  terminate  after  a  due  time,  and,  the  heavenly 
powers,  propitiated,  secure  to  him  and  his  posterity  bis 
kingdom. 

He  was  now  thoroughly  composed.  What  had  first 
excited  him  was  explained  to  us.  An  hour  before  we 
came  in,  he  had  received  an  impudent  and  haughty  chal 
lenge  from  the  Philistine  king,  written  with  the  blood 
of  one  of  his  spies,  (who  had  been  taken  and  slain,) 
upon  a  piece  of  sacred  parchment  of  the  holy  law.  It 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      161 

had  been  shot  into  the  window  fastened  to  an  arrow,  and 
fell  at  the  side  of  the  throne  as  the  king  sat  thereon 
giving  audience. 

One  should  know,  in  order  to  comprehend  the  full  in 
sult  of  the  challenge,  with  what  superstitious  reverence 
the  Hebrews  regard  their  sacred  parchments.  If  a  man 
sec  a  fragment  on  the  ground  he  dare  not  pass  it  lest 
one  of  the  names  of  their  God  be  upon  it,  and  it  be 
trodden  under  foot !  It  is  a  great  crime  in  any  way 
to  desecrate  it ;  but  ONE  of  his  mysterious  names  no  man 
ever  wrote  or  dares  to  write  !  The  Scribes  express  it  by 
a  blank  space !  But  others  may  lawfully  be  written. 
The  Philistine  knew  this.  Moreover,  blood  is  deemed 
sacred  by  the  Hebrews  !  To  make  use  of  it,  as  was 
done  by  the  Philistine,  was  therefore  a  two-fold  insult; 
not  to  speak  of  the  slaughter  of  the  poor  spy  whose  life 
supplied  the  stream  in  which  the  reed  was  dipped.  The 
boldness  of  the  bowman,  who  could  approach  so  near 
the  walls,  unseen,  as  to  send  through  the  window  a  shaft 
with  the  challenge  secured  to  its  feathered  end,  increased 
the  wrath  of  King  Saul.  In  vain  the  bearer  of  the  bold 
challenge  was  sought  for  !  The  king,  in  the  meanwhile, 
commanded  his  scribe  to  read  it. 

"  To  Saul  of  Kish,  King  of  slaves,  Goliath  of  Gath 
sendeth  greeting  :  By  this  writing  he  challengeth  him  to 
single  combat  for  his  crown  !  In  the  valley  of  Mount 
Gebo,  before  Socho,  he  awaiteth  Saul  the  Hebrew, 
King  of  slaves !  Why  should  thy  army  all  perish  ? 
Come  forth  out  of  the  city  and  let  us  two  men-of-war 
decide  our  quarrel.  He  that  conquers  shall  have  both 
kingdoms  and  wear  both  crowns.  Send  me  speedily  thine 
answer,  thou  dog  of  a  Hebrew,  son  of  tvish  the  herd." 
11 


162  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

There  is  little  to  marvel  at  that  King  Saul,  with  his 
morbid  and  irate  temper,  should  have  been  thrown  into 
a  great  rage  by  this  missile  !  The  arrow,  with  the  chal 
lenge,  I  saw  lying  upon  the  floor  as  we  entered,  but  had 
then  no  idea  of  their  signification. 

Having  conducted  me  to  a  seat  by  his  throne,  the 
dignified  king  now  quietly  conversed  with  me  about  As 
syria,  the  number  of  the  chariots,  horsemen,  and  foot-men 
in  your  majesty's  armies,  inquired  as  to  your  age  and 
personal  appearance,  was  amazed  when  I  described  to  him 
the  vastness  of  your  dominions,  and  the  magnificence  of 
Nineveh  with  its  million  of  souls.  He  inquired  about 
your  forges  of  armor,  your  mines  of  iron,  of  gold, 
silver,  and  copper  ;  your  pearl  fisheries  on  the  South  Sea, 
and  your  fleets  trading  to  remote  Tarshish*  in  the  east, 
and  to  Ezion-geber  on  the  Red  Sea  of  Ethiopia.  He 
said  he  would  gladly  purchase  arms  in  Assyria  for  his 
people,  and  desired  me  to  ask  your  majesty  to  dispose 
of  as  many  as  would  fully  arm  his  hosts,  which  I  pro 
mised  to  do ;  and  he  has  resolved  to  send  a  caravan  to 
Assyria  with  me  on  my  return  from  Egypt,  in  order  to 
bring  them  hither.  We  conversed  an  hour.  The  prince 
seeing  the  placable  mood  his  father  was  in,  secretly  re 
moved  the  arrow  and  its  message  from  the  hall,  and  dis 
appeared  ;  and  as  he  passed  through  the  ante-room,  he 
benevolently,  though  reluctantly,  granted  in  the  king's 
name  the  prayers  of  all  who  waited,  and  sent  them 
away  joyful ;  and  forbidding  any  one  to  intrude  into 
the  king's  presence  that  day,  he  went  to  aid  the  generals 
to  organize  the  army. 

Poor  young  prince  !  How  heavily  his  father's  calamity 
*  Now  the  Island  of  Ceylon. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      163 

weighs  upon  him  !  His  position,  too,  is  singularly  anoma 
lous  !  I  have  just  said  he  granted  the  petitions  of  those 
poor  p?ople  who  sought  the  king's  clemency  or  favor,  but 
granted  them  reluctantly.  He  felt  that  in  doing  it  he 
\vas  usurping  a  right  which  was  not  justly  his,  for  though 
he  was  the  king's  son,  he  knew  he  was  not  to  succeed 
him  in  the  kingdom ;  and  therefore  had  no  authority 
to  act  in  the  kingdom,  as  one  who  was  by  and  by  to 
reign,  might  perhaps,  lawfully  do  !  I  have  already  stated 
to  your  majesty  that  the  sceptre  was  to  be  taken  from 
Saul  by  the  God  who  conferred  it  upon  him  in  his  earlier 
years,  and  given  to  another;  that  the  prince  not  only 
knows  this,  but  is  well  aware  who  the  person  is,  who  is 
to  supplant  himself  in  the  royal  succession. 

This  evening,  while  I  was  seated  in  my  tent,  reflecting 
upon  the  extraordinary  scene  which  occurred  to-day  dur 
ing  my  visit  to  the  king,  the  curtain  of  my  tent  was 
raised  and  the  prince  entered.  I  received  him  with  more 
than  my  usual  friendly  warmth,  and  he  took  a  seat  by 
me.  After  a  moment's  silence  he  said, 

"  My  dear  Arbaces,  you  have  now  seen  my  father,  and 
can  understand  his  calamity.  I  am  sure  you  sympathize 
with  me,  and  feel  deeply  for  him  with  your  generous  nature. 
Once  how  heroic,  noble,  majestic  a  king  was  he,  until  that 
unhappy  day  when  he  usurped  the  sacred  office  of  Sacrificer 
to  God  !  It  has  cost  him  his  peace,  his  mind,  his  reason,  the 
loss  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  and,  ultimately,  will  cost  him  the 
loss  of  his  throne !  But  I  will  not  intrude  our  griefs  upon 
you.  I  have  come  to  say  that  my  father  has  decided  to  march 
against  the  Philistines  without  delay.  There  are  twenty 
thousand  Hebrew  soldiers  in,  and  within  an  hour's  march 
of,  Hebron.  We  move  the  first  division  at  sunrise  to- 


104  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

morrow.  I  have  come  to  ask  you  if  you  would  like  to 
accompany  me,  as  I  go  with  it !  Do  not  think  I  am  so 
liciting  your  aid,  I  only  desire  your  company ;  and  have 
thought  you  might  wish  to  see  a  battle ;  for  unless  the 
enemy  prove  too  great  in  numbers  we  shall  offer  him 
battle  within  three  days.  He  is  encamped  about  thirty 
miles  to  the  north-west,  in  a  broad  plain  enclosed  by 
mountains.  His  hosts  are  reported  by  our  spies  to  be 
very  great.  We  shall  advance  with  the  army  we  have 
with  us,  and  leave  orders  for  any  fresh  bodies  of  troops 
to  follow." 

"  I  will  not  only  go  with  you  as  a  friend,  my  dear 
prince,"  I  said;  "but  I  will  take  with  me  six  hundred 
of  my  body-guard,  leaving  the  residue  to  guard  my  en 
campment.  I  now  offer  you  and  the  king  the  assistance 
of  my  brave  Assyrians !  Be  sure  they  will  do  good 
service." 

The  prince  warmly  thanked  me  and  then  said,  "  I  wiL 
make  known  your  kind  offer  to  the  king ;  but  I  fear  his 
pride  will  lead  him  to  decline  it ;  for  if  the  victory  is 
won,  he  would  desire  the  whole  glory  should  be  with  his 
own  army ;  and  if  he  is  defeated,  he  would  be  mortified 
to  involve  in  the  disgrace  the  soldiers  of  an  ambassador 
who  is  merely  passing  through  his  kingdom  on  a  mission 
of  peace  to  a  foreign  potentate." 

"  I  see,  my  dear  prince,  you  speak  your  own  senti 
ments  as  well  as  those  you  think  will  be  your  royal  fa 
ther's,"  I  answered  with  a  smile.  "At  all  events,  I 
will  accompany  you  with  my  guards;  and  if  there  prove 
to  be  no  need  of  their  service,  they  shall  remain  neu 
tral." 

At  this  moment  the  prince  glanced  his  eyes  upon  the 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.       105 

little  roll  of  parchment  called  the  "  Story  of  Ruth,"  which 
I  had  been  reading  by  the  light  of  my  tent-lamp  when  he 
entered. 

"I  sec  you  interest  yourself,  noble  Arbaces.  greatly  in 
our  writings,"  he  said. 

"  They  are  deeply  interesting  to  me  as  well  as  wholly 
new,"  I  replied.  "  Your  whole  history  is  wonderful !  Be 
ginning  with  the  calling  of  Abraham  out  of  Assyrian 
Chaldea  by  a  voice  from  the  heavens,  and  coming  down 
to  his  obedience,  and  his  inarch  from  the  Euphrates  to  the 
Jordan  guided  by  a  dove  (which  at  night  shone  like  a 
star,  as  one  of  your  ancient  books  records) ;  to  his  wars 
here,  and  to  his  kingly  dominion  in  this  very  land,  Hebron, 
his  chief  seat  of  authority,  while  this  plain  was  his  bib 
rial  place ;  to  the  romantic  incident  of  Isaac  his  son 
sending  to  Chaldea  for  his  wife,  and  her  being  brought 
to  him  veiled ;  to  the  wonderful  career  of  Jacob  ;  the 
selling  of  Joseph  ;  the  famine  which  drove  them  into 
Egypt ;  the  sudden  elevation  of  the  youthful  Joseph  to 
power ;  his  revelation  of  himself  to  his  brethren ;  first 
their  amazement,  and  then  their  terror  lest  he  should 
avenge  himself  on  them,  and  their  joy  at  his  forgiveness  ; 
their  presentation  before  Pharaoh  ;  the  death  of  Joseph, 
and  his  dying  injunction  that  his  descendants  should  take 
his  bones  to  this  very  plain  where  his  ancestors  had  been 
buried  ;  and  the  extraordinary  fact  that  one  hundred 
and  eighty  years  afterwards  the  descendants  of  himself 
and  brethren  did  actually  leave  Egypt  and  come  to  this 
land  and  bury  the  bones  of  Joseph  with  his  fathers  in 
this  cave  of  Machpelah,  which  I  can  by  day  behold  in 
full  view  from  here,  my  tent  door ;  the  power  of  your 
God  exhibited  in  the  dividing  of  the  Red  Sea,  and  of  the 


I  <)6  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR. 

Jordan,  and  in  many  other  mighty  deeds !  all  these 
events  and  incidents  are  parts  of  a  wonderful  history, 
such  as  mere  human  invention  could  never  approach  in 
interest  or  in  marvels.  From  the  beginning  to  the  end, 
it  possesses  a  singular  harmony  of  proportions  and 
dependencies,  one  event  leading  to  another,  and  the 
whole  wrought  out  from  foreseen  and  foreshaped  cir 
cumstances  by  a  wisdom  and  power  which  must  have 
perceived  the  end  from  the  beginning.  Before  its  nar 
ration,  all  the  legends  of  our  Persian  poets  are  insignifi 
cant  and  weak.  What  will  be  the  ultimate  end,  who 
can  foresee  ?  But  without  doubt  there  is  a  Future  before 
you  commensurate  with  the  past,  and  which  has  been  in 
part  foreshadowed  by  the  Past." 

When  I  had  ceased,  the  prince  regarded  me  a  moment 
steadfastly  and  said : 

"  You  understand  our  nation.  Without  doubt,  we  are 
working  out  some  mighty  problem  in  which  God  is  inter 
ested,  and  of  which  we  are  but  the  blind  instruments. 
Our  prophets  plainly  teach  us  that  whatever  we  do,  we 
but  prefigure  something  yet  to  come — that  all  our  na 
tional  events  and  our  religious  rites  are  but  types  of  some 
great  thing  to  be  developed  in  the  ages  yet  future ;  that 
our  tabernacle,  our  sacred  Ark,  our  altar  of  incense,  our 
lamb  sacrificed  morning  and  evening,  our  seven  candle 
sticks,  our  shew-bread,  our  holy  of  holies,  our  High 
Priest,  the  breast-plate  and  ephod,  the  urim  and  thuui- 
mim  with  its  dazzling  light,  the  scape  goat,  the  jubilee, 
the  offering  of  atonement  and  expiation;  all  are  not 
what  they  seem,  but  foreshadow  a  mighty  reality  yet  to 
come  forth  out  of  the  splendor  of  a  glorious  future !  They 
teach  that  all  we  are  as  a  nation,  in  all  we  are  and  do. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      167 

we  hold  but  the  place  of  the  scaffolding  by  which  a  fair 
temple  is  upreared,  which,  when  the  holy  edifice  is  com 
pleted  in  all  its  symmetry  and  fair  proportions,  is  re 
moved  and  cast  aside  as  of  no  further  value,  now  that  the 
end  for  which  it  was  made  use  of  is  achieved !  We  are 
a  mystery  to  ourselves." 

"  I  should  gladly  hear  all  that  your  priests  can  reveal 
of  your  religious  rites  and  usages,"  I  answered. 

"  I  will  give  you  the  opportunity  at  an  early  day," 
answered  the  prince.  "  We  were  speaking  of  the  Book 
of  Ruth.  It  was  written  by  the  youthful  David  my  friend 
whom  we  saw  at  Ramah.  It  is  a  noble  and  sweet  poem, 
though  not  rhythmical ;  but  taste  and  feeling,  and  to 
know  the  art  to  touch  the  finer  chords  of  the  soul  with 
the  pen  make  the  poet !  What  a  lovely  character  is  his ! 
how  courageous  yet  how  diffident !  how  ingenuous  his  dis 
position  !  how  true  are  his  instincts  to  the  purest  emotions 
of  our  nature  !  I  love  him,  Arbaces,  passing  the  love 
of  maidens  and  he  not  only  returns  my  full  affection,  but 
I  believe  that  my  friendship  is  necessary  to  his  ex 
istence.  In  each  other's  presence  we  are  perfectly 
at  peace !" 

"  I  am  interested  to  learn  more  of  him,"  I  answered ; 
u  for  he  made  upon  me  a  deep  impression  not  only  from 
the  extraordinary  beauty  of  his  face  and  the  manly  grace 
of  his  bearing,  but  especially  from  his  marvelous  skill 
on  the  harp,  and  his  harmonious  voice,  which  is  full  of 
sweetness  and  power !" 

"You  shall  hear  all  that  I  think  will  interest  you,  my 
dear  prince,"  said  the  royal  Hebrew  youth  as  he  replaced 
the  flexible  parchments  of  the  Book  of  Ruth  in  their 
chased  silver  casket  "  My  friend  is  the  son  of  the 


Ib8  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Hebrew  Elder,  Jesse,  and  was  born  at  Bethlehem,  the 
rocky  castellated  hill  we  passed  an  hour  after  leaving  the 
fortress  of  the  ancient  and  unconquered  Jebusites,  on 
the  right  hand.  His  father  is  a  man  of  mark  and  of 
substance,  and  also  a  shepherd  following  the  honorable 
pursuit  of  our  patriarchal  forefathers.  This  worthy  citi 
zen  is,  moreover,  the  grandson  of  Ruth  the  wife  of  Boaz, 
the  owner  of  the  wheat  field  where  she  gleaned  after 
his  reapers.  Thus  Jesse  is  not  of  our  pure  Hebrew 
lineage,  for  the  beautiful  Ruth  was  from  the  land  of 
Moab!" 

"Who  was  Moab?"  I  asked;  "and  where  is  his 
country?" 

"  On  the  east  of  the  sea  of  Sodoma,"  kindly  answered 
the  prince.  "  Moab  was  one  of  the  sons  of  Lot  the  nephew 
of  Abraham,  born  to  his  eldest  daughter  after  the  de 
struction  of  the  cities  of  the  plain.  This  unnatural 
child  became  the  head  of  a  powerful  nation.  He  was 
born  about  the  same  time  with  Isaac  our  great  ances 
tor!" 

"  If  then,"  I  replied  in  my  desire  to  obtain  full  in 
formation  of  this  people,  "  the  Moabites  are  descended 
from  a  nephew  of  Abraham,  Ruth  being  of  his  race 
traces  her  ascent  equally  with  you  Hebrews  to  the 
grandfather  of  Abraham,  in  whom  both  you  and  the 
Moabites  meet !  She  can,  therefore,  hardly  be  called  a 
foreigner!  This  rich  shepherd  Jesse  therefore,  her 
grandson,  has  the  same  blood  that  Abraham  had  in  his 
veins !" 

"  True,"  courteously  answered  the  prince ;  "  but  by  the 
command  of  God  all  collateral  kindred  to  Abraham  were 
cut  off,  and  only  the  immediate  descendants  of  the  kingly 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      169 

patriarch  recognized  as  the  people  of  God's  peculiar 
care.  He  has  never  called  himself  the  God  of  Lot  or  of 
Moah,  but  only  of  "Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob;"  this 
is  hia  name  to  us  in  the  Past,  Present,  and  forevermore ! 
Moreover  the  descendants  of  Lot's  daughter  through  her 
son  Moab  have  run  in  a  diverging  line  from  ours  for  nearly 
nine  hundred  years  !" 

"Pardon  me,  my  dear  prince,  for  this  interruption,"  I 
said.  "Be  so  kind  as  to  proceed." 

"When  my  father  had  displeased  the  Almighty  by  his 
usurpation  of  the  priestly  office,  and  sparing  where  he 
should  destroy,  as  well  as  by  two  or  three  acts  of  impatient 
and  reluctant  obedience  to  His  divine  authority,  He  com 
manded  His  Prophet  Samuel  to  go  and  anoint  another 
king  over  Israel,  saying,  "  I  have  rejected  Saul  from 
being  king  !" 

"  Who  was  Saul  thy  royal  father,  0  prince,  in  his 
youth?"  I  inquired.  "Was  he  distinguished  by  any 
remarkable  lineage? — descended  from  Moses  or  Joshua  or 
any  of  the  warrior  Judges,  that  he  was  chosen  in  the  be 
ginning  as  the  first  king  of  the  Hebrews?" 

"No,"  he  answered;  "my  father  was  of  the  smallest 
tribe — the  younger  brother  Benjamin's  tribe — of  the 
people.  His  father  was  a  man  wise  in  council,  brave  in 
battle,  and  eminent  for  his  great  strength  and  valiant 
deeds.  He  was  a  tiller  of  the  land ;  and  herdsmen,  with 
u  few  men  and  maid  servants,  and  his  sons  also,  served 
him  in  the  care  of  his  herds.  With  our  God,  my  Prince 
Arbaces,  human  distinctions  are  wholly  disregarded. 
As  once  he  chose  Abraham,  the  son  of  a  carver  of  idols, 
out  of  Chaldea  to  be  the  father  of  our  nation,  and  Moses, 
of  humble  parentage,  to  lead  them  out  of  Egypt,  and 


170 

Joshua,  the  son  of  a  poor  man,  to  conquer  the  promised 
land  for  us,  none  of  them  being  of  kingly  lineage,  so 
chose  he  out  Saul  the  son  of  Kish  the  herdsman,  from 
the  valley  of  Mount  Ephraim,  to  reign  over  his  people, 
when  they  demanded  a  king.  In  stature,  dignity, 
courage,  and  generous  qualities,  my  father  was  worthy 
of  this  high  distinction,  from  what  I  learn  of  those  old 
men  who  knew  him  in  that  day!" 

"  I  should  suppose  so,"  I  answered,  "  from  the  majesty 
of  his  form  now,  and  his  striking  appearance,  although 
it  is  plain  I  behold  only  the  splendid  wreck  of  the  former 
grace  and  dignity  which  he  possessed." 

"  No  more  than  the  wreck,  no  more,  my  prince !"  an 
swered  Jonathan  with  a  pensive  look,  shadowing  his  fine 
face.  "  Samuel  anointed  him  king  in  the  presence  of 
many  of  the  lords  and  high  captains,  and  chief  estates 
of  the  land,  and  eventually  crowned  him  with  full  regal 
authority.  The  early  years  of  my  father's  reign  were 
prosperous  and  happy.  He  strengthened  himself  in  hia 
kingdom,  he  expelled  our  enemies  from  all  our  borders, 
which  in  the  time  of  the  rule  of  Samuel's  sons  they  had 
invaded,  and  he  carried  his  victorious  arms  beyond  oui 
country  into  Syria,  and  in  all  his  battles  was  conqueror. 
But  one  of  the  nations  (called  the  sons  of  Amalek)  which 
treacherously  did  our  fathers  great  mischief  when  they 
were  wandering  in  the  wilderness,  Samuel  the  Seer  had 
commanded  him  to  destroy  utterly,  by  the  express  direc 
tion  of  God.  My  father  conquered  the  Amalekites,  but 
saved  the  King  Agag  and  a  portion  of  the  spoil,  against 
this  command.  This,  also,  caused  God's  anger  to  be 
kindled  against  my  father,  and  was  another  reason  of 
his  rejection  as  king  !  Yet  with  the  people  he  was  hon- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      171 

ored  and  admired  as  a  successful  warrior,  as  a  wise  ruler ! 
But  who  cau  stand  against  the  anger  of  the  Almighty  !" 

"Thy  God  is  terrible  in  power,  and  glorious  in  ma 
jesty,"  I  answered  with  awe;  "who  can  offend  him  and 
escape  punishment  ?  Aaron  his  great  High  Priest,  for  his 
rebellion  at  the  waters  of  Meribah,  and  for  not  prevent 
ing  the  people  in  the  wilderness  from  worshiping  the 
golden  calf,  was  forbidden  to  see  the  promised  land  ! 
There  is  something  singularly  impressive  and  touching 
in  the  departure  of  this  aged  and  magnificent  prelate  to 
ascend  the  mountain  of  Ilor  to  die  for  his  sin  !  There  is 
something  awful  and  inexorable  in  the  fiat  of  his  God, 
which  commands  him  to  go  up  in  the  sight  of  the  whole 
congregation,  as  if  he  would  show  them  that  the  best  and 
gentlest  of  men  must  expiate  their  errors  and  sins 
against  him !  The  spectacle  seemed  to  convey  to  them 
the  lesson,  '  If  thus  I  cut  off  my  consecrated  High  Priest 
Aaron,  (and  forty  years  after  his  sin  and  yours  is  com 
mitted,)  how  shall  I  spare  you,  when  you  sin  and  break 
my  laws?' ' 

I  can  imagine,  your  majesty,  the  noble  chief  priest 
of  this  people  in  his  pontifical  robes,  his  flowing  beard 
and  silvery  locks,  his  form  bent  with  one  hundred  and 
twenty  years,  slowly  ascending  the  elevated  plain  of 
Mosera,  and  crossing  it  painfully,  commence  the  steep 
ascent  of  the  peak  of  Hor.  I  see  the  vast  multitude  of 
people  follow  him  with  their  sorrowful  gaze !  As  the 
way  wearies  him,  he  leans  upon  the  arm  of  his  tall,  strong 
Bon  Eleazer;  while  his  patriarchal  brother  the  equally 
venerable  Moses  (soon  afterwards  to  ascend  Mount  Pis- 
gah,  farther  north,  and  die  alone,  with  the  angels  of  God 
to  bury  him)  walks  by  his  side,  discoursing  with  him  of 


172  THE    THROXE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

the  sublime  and  mighty  truths  of  that  other  life,  in  which 
the  Hebrews  believe.  When  the  three  reach  the  moun 
tain  top,  with  the  blue  skies  bending  over  them,  and  the 
broad  plains  of  Mosera  and  the  valleys  beyond,  dark  with 
the  hosts  of  Israel,  watching  them  from  afar,  I  see  the 
aged  Pontiff  begin  slowly,  and  with  trembling  hands  to 
divest  himself  of  the  magnificent  robes  and  gorgeous  in 
signia  of  his  priestly  office !  First  he  removes  from  hig 
patriarchal  head  his  mitre,  with  its  veil  of  lace  of  blue 
and  fine  linen,  arranged  in  numerous  ample  circular  folds 
confined  by  a  broad  plate  of  pure  gold,  on  which  is  in 
scribed, 

"HOLINESS  TO   THE   LORD." 

He  places  it  meekly  upon  the  brow  of  his  son  and  successor, 
who  kneels  at  his  feet.  Then  he  takes  off  his  breastplate 
dazzling  with  the  light  of  its  twelve  precious  stones.  He 
removes  the  splendid  ephod  of  fine  linen  entwined  and 
embroidered  with  gold,  blue,  scarlet,  and  purple  threads, 
and  adorned  with  plates  of  wrought  gold;  but  his  aged 
fingers  can  not  undo  the  clasps  of  the  beautiful  girdle  of 
the  ephod,  and  his  venerable  brother  aids  him,  but  with 
difficulty,  as  his  eyes  are  blinded  with  tears !  This  holy 
ephod  he  places  in  the  hands  of  Moses  to  retain,  until  he 
is  wholly  disrobed  of  his  priestly  apparel.  Then  from  hia 
shoulders  one  by  one  he  removes  the  brilliant  onyx  stones 
enclosed  in  ouches  of  gold,  which  had  held  the  chain  of 
gold  that  fastened  the  breastplate,  and  attaches  them 
upon  the  knobs  of  the  ephod,  held  in  his  brother's  hands - 
Now  the  long  white  linen  robe,  which  distinguishes  the 
High  Priest's  rank,  and  is  an  emblem  of  his  purity,  still 
fragrant  with  incense  and  the  rich  perfume  of  the  holy 
anointing  oil,  he  divests  himself,  of  and  solemnly  invests 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM,.      173 

the  stately  form  of  his  son  therewith.  Over  it  he  puts 
the  cphod,  and  also  places  the  glittering  onyx  stones 
on  his  two  shoulders.  Upon  it  he  fastens  the  breast 
plate  with  its  twelve  stones,  in  four  rows  :  the  first  con 
taining  a  sardius,  a  topaz,  and  a  carbuncle,  very  precious 
tetones  ;  the  second  row  contained  an  emerald,  a  sapphire, 
and  a  diamond ;  the  third  row  a  ligure,  an  agate,  and  an 
amethyst ;  and  the  fourth  row  a  beryl,  an  onyx,  and  a 
jasper ;  all  set  in  ouches  of  gold  with  wrought  gold  bor 
ders.  Each  stone  was  a  signet,  bearing  engraved  thereon 
one  of  the  names  of  the  children  of  Israel. 

Thus  did  the  august  and  aged  pontiff  divest  himself 
of  his  insignia  and  marks  of  power  as  vicegerent  of  God 
on  earth,  and  transfer  them,  on  the  mountain-top,  in  the 
sight  of  all  the  people  and  in  the  sight  of  heaven  above, 
to  Eleazar  his  son  to  be  the  High  Priest  in  his  stead ! 
This  sublime  abdication  of  the  Hebrew  pontificate  by  the 
command  of  his  Lord  being  accomplished,  behold  the 
majestic  man  of  God  kneel  towards  the  people  and  bless 
them  !  then  folding  his  hands  upon  his  breast,  with  one 
look  of  faith,  resignation,  and  meekness  upwards,  bow 
his  august  forehead  to  the  ground,  and  give  up  the 
ghost. 

"In  the  whole  hi  story  of  the  departure  of  great  men  from 
earth,"  i  said,  addressing  Prince  Jonathan,  "no  account 
equals  the  sublime  spectacle  of  the  death  of  the  High 
Priest,  Aaron  !  That  of  Moses  not  long  afterwards  was 
indeed  impressive,  but  it  wanted  the  details  of  transfer 
of  authority  which  rendered  the  abdication  and  death 
of  his  brother  so  dignified  and  touching." 

"My  dear  Arbaces,"  said  the  prince,  "I  am  pleased 
to  find  you  so  skilled  in  our  history  !  Hitherto  I  have 


174  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

regarded  the  death  of  Moses,  followed  by  the  mystery 
of  his  sepulchre,  the  more  interesting  of  the  two  inci 
dents.  You  are  right  in  giving  preference  in  Sublimity 
and  tenderness  to  that  of  the  High  Priest !  But  what 
led  us  to  this  subject?  Were  we  not  discoursing  of 
David?" 

"  I  had  alluded  to  the  awful  severity  of  your  God  in 
punishing  sin,  with  immediate  reference  to  your  royal 
father's  sad  rejection,"  I  answered. 

"True,  Arbaces,"  he  replied:  "Our  God  is  a  con 
suming  fire  to  those  who  disobey  him ;  but  of  long- 
suffering,  pity,  and  great  kindness  to  those  who  walk  in 
the  way  of  his  divine  laws.  His  power  is  infinite  to 
punish  or  to  bless.  But  I  will  now  resume  my  narra 
tive  of  my  young  friend  David,  the  son  of  Jesse." 

But,  your  majesty,  I  will  defer  this  interesting  history 
to  another  letter.  I  feel  assured  that  nothing  concern 
ing  this  wonderful  people,  whose  God  ever  walks  among 
them,  invisibly  seeing  all  they  do,  powerful  to  pro 
tect,  and  terrible  to  avenge,  will  be  uninteresting  to 
you. 

Farewell,  and  may  the  gods  of  Assyria  be  evermore 
your  majesty's  friends,  and  the  foes  of  your  adversaries. 

ARBACES. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM      175 


LETTER    VI. 

ARBACES  TO  THE  KING. 

CAMP  BEFORE  HEBRON. 

YOUR  MAJESTY: 

A  SAND-STORM  from  the  south  deserts  swept  over 
the  kind's  city  and  the  plain  of  Mamre  this  morninc;  "with 

•/ 

fearful  power.  It  darkened  all  the  air  so  that  the  sun 
gave  no  more  light  than  the  stars  at  midnight.  Our 
encampment  was  thrown  into  the  wildest  confusion. 
Half  our  tents  were  blown  down  and  swept  away,  and 
for  a  time  destruction  and  consternation  prevailed.  The 
winds  roared  with  ungovernable  fury.  Trees  were  up- 
torn  and  whisked  across  the  valley  like  autumnal  leaves  ; 
and  even  the  towers  of  Hebron  shook,  and  one  of  them 
fell  with  a  great  crash  into  the  moat  beneath  !  The 
atmosphere  was  surcharged  with  yellow  sand  so  that  it 
could  not  be  directly  breathed  without  danger  of  suffo 
cation  to  all  life.  It  lasted  an  hour,  and  did  the  work 
of  days  of  devastation  in  that  brief  time.  The  armies 
of  Saul,  which  had  been  marshaled  by  the  chief  captains 
and  high  lords  and  generals  to  march  forth  to  the  war, 
were  thrown  into  disorder,  and  fled  for  shelter,  or  cast 
themselves  in  terror  upon  the  earth. 

This  destructive  visitation  has  of  course  delayed  the 
advance  of  the  army  of  the  king  for  a  day  or  two,  as  it 


- 


176  THE    THRONE    OF   DA VII);    OK, 

will  take  some  time  to  reorganize  and  marshal  all  the 
dispersed  forces.  My  own  tent  withstood  the  storm,  at 
least  so  far  as  not  to  be  blown  over  ;  but  it  was  damaged 
and  disordered.  It  is  now  near  sunset,  and  we  have  al 
most  wholly  restored  everything  to  its  former  condition. 
Quiet  and  order  prevail  immediately  about  me.  I  will, 
therefore,  resume  my  pen,  and  give  you  a  transcript  of 
the  residue  of  my  conversation  with  the  prince,  within 
the  door  of  my  tent  last  night. 

"I  will  inform  you,"  said  Jonathan,  "how  and  where 
I  first  met  with  David.  I  had  been  hunting  the  gazelle 
with  Prince  Ishbosheth,  my  younger  brother,  who  had 
promised  his  sister  Michal  to  capture  a  fawn  and  bring 
it  alive  to  her,  when  we  came  to  a  small  valley  west  of 
Bethlehem,  up  which  a  wild  brown  coney  had  bounded, 
and  after  which  the  Egyptian  hunting  dog  of  my  brother 
took  at  full  speed.  At  the  same  moment  I  caught 
sight  of  a  graceful  gazelle  perched  upon  a  point  of  rocks 
not  far  up  the  glen,  and  fitting  my  arrow  to  the  bow-string, 
hastened  with  my  brother  in  the  direction  taken  by 
the  dog.  The  ravine  brought  us  into  a  narrow  defile 
closed  in  by  nearly  precipitous  rocks.  Up  the  sides, 
leaping  from  projection  to  projection,  the  terrified  rabbit 
ascended,  while  the  gazelle,  still  visible  on  the  topmost 
spur,  seemed  to  be  too  intently  and  curiously  watching 
some  object  beyond  us  to  see  us.  Ishbosheth,  light  and 
swift  of  foot,  was  soon  half  way  up  the  crags,  leaving  his 
dog  baying  below.  I  quickly  followed  him,  and  upon 
reaching  the  summit  was  about  to  draw  my  arrow  to  its 
head  upon  the  gazelle  when  Ishbosheth,  who  was  a  little 
in  advance  of  me,  cried,  '  Come,  quickly !  Look  in  the 
vale  below!' 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      177 

"  A.t  first,  I  could  only  sec  a  flock  of  sheep  flying  ID 
terror  from  some  object,  invisible  to  me.  But  drawing 
nearer  the  verge,  I  beheld,  nearly  ninety  feet  below  me, 
and  not  three  bow-shots  off,  a  sight  that  paralyzed  me 
In  the  bosom  of  the  deeply  shaded  dell,  a  mere  youth 
was  combating  for  his  life  with  a  large  and  powerful 
bear.  At  his  feet  lay  a  bleeding  lamb,  over  which  he 
stood  as  if  to  protect  it.  In  one  paw  the  bear  hugged 
closely  its  bleating  dam,  while  with  the  other  it  struck 
like  a  map  at  the  brave  young  shepherd,  for  such  his 
dress  bctiayed  him  to  be,  who,  heedless  of  death,  with 
his  shepherd's  knife,  inflicted  rapidly  wound  after  wound 
in  the  breast  of  the  monster,  until  the  paw  relaxed  its 
hold  upon  the  now  dead  sheep,  and  the  enormous  brute 
fell  over  upon  the  earth  a  corpse.  Scarcely  had  this 
gallant  victory  been  achieved,  and  as  he  stopped  to  pick 
up  the  wounded  lamb  at  his  feet,  a  loud  roar  shook  the 
cliffs  and  resounded  along  the  dell  like  deep  thunder. 
It  was  followed  by  the  appearance  of  a  young  lion,  who 
bounded  forward  and  suddenly  crouched  within  twenty 
feet  of  the  young  shepherd.  Seeing  his  peril,  I  sent  the 
shaft  I  had  intended  for  the  gazelle,  full-aimed  at  the 
lion's  body.  It  fell  short  and  pierced  the  sward  forty 
feet  this  side  of  him.  Ishbosheth  followed  it  by  another 
equally  unsuccessful,  at  the  same  time  uttering  a  loud 
cry  to  warn  the  youth  of  his  danger,  and  to  frighten  the 
lion.  To  reach  him  in  order  to  succor  him,  (which  was 
our  first  impulse,)  was  impossible,  as  the  face  of  the  cliff 
from  which  we  looked  down  into  the  dell,  was  an 
unbroken  perpendicular  wall  for  several  hundred  yards 
on  each  side  of  us.  The  youth,  hearing  our  shouts, 
looked  up.  His  face  was  pale,  but  full  of  the  light  of  a 
12 


178  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

fearless  heart.  He  smiled  confidently  as  lie  awaited  the 
bound  of  the  lion,  grasping  in  his  right  hand  his  blood- 
dyed  knife,  and  closer  sheltering  in  his  bosom  the  wounded 
little  lamb.  For  a  moment  the  lion  and  the  youth  looked 
into  each  other's  eyes  with  the  steadiness  of  the  sun 
shining  in  its  strength.  Neither  blenched  !  The  young 
man  slowly  retired,  step  by  step,  with  his  eyes  full 
upon  the  great  beast's  eyes,  which  glittered  with  a 
steely-blue  light,  when  in  two  bounds  the  lion  was  at  his 
side — and  only  at  his  side!  for  as  he  leaped  towards 
him,  intending  to  light  with  both  paws  upon  his  breast, 
the  cool  and  nerved  youth  lightly,  at  the  very  moment 
of  mortal  peril,  stepped  aside.  The  lion  sprung  past 
him,  and  as  he  did  so  the  long  herdsman's  knife  flashed 
on  high  for  an  instant,  and  was  buried  to  the  hilt  in  his 
heart.  The  animal  plunged  forward  and  fell  headlong 
across  the  dead  body  of  the  bear.  The  victorious  com 
batant  then  ran,  and  drawing  his  knife  forth  from  the 
heart  of  the  lion,  he  raised  his  arm  heavenward,  with 
the  point  of  the  weapon  downward,  and  with  the  look 
of  a  priest  who  has  just  slain  the  sacrifice,  he  offered  up 
thanks  to  God  for  his  victory  and  his  safety. 

"  Such  courage,  presence  of  mind,  humanity,  and  piety 
in  one  so  young,  for  he  was  scarcely  eighteen,"  continued 
the  prince,  "  at  once  awakened  in  my  bosom  the  deepest 
interest  in  a  youthful  hero,  who  single-handed  had  thus 
slain  a  lion  and  a  bear,  and  rescued  so  humanely  his  lit 
tle  lamb  from  its  foes.  My  brother  and  I  expressed  our 
admiration  and  joy  at  the  issue  with  shouts  of  triumph ! 
and,  hastening  along  the  ridge  of  the  precipice,  after  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  we  found  a  steep  pathway  leading  to 
the  valley  below.  We  soon  found  ourselves  upon  the 


THE*  REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  179 

level,  and  at  length  reached  the  spot  where  lay  the  dead 
lion  and  the  bear  !  But  it  was  a  solitude  !  We  looked 
around  in  vain  to  discover  the  youthful  hero  of  the  well- 
fought  field.  AVe  approached  the  two  slain  animals,  and 
saw  that  they  were  both  of  the  largest  size  !  The  bear 
had  not  less  than  eight  deep  wounds  in  his  body,  while 
blood  upon  one  of  the  claws  showed  that  the  victor  had 
not  got  oiF  without  harm.  I  resolved  to  ascertain  whither 
the  young  shepherd  had  gone,  and  a  remark  of  my  brother 
that  possibly  he  was  lying  down  somewhere  bleeding  from 
his  wounds,  made  me  more  determined  to  hunt  him  up, 
and  know  what  had  become  of  him. 

"  \Ve  left  the  little  dell,  and  going  round  a  high  rock  at 
its  entrance  came  to  a  gentle  eminence  on  the  top  of 
which  a  large  Hock  of  sheep  stood  trembling.  AVe  drew 
near,  when  I  heard  the  sound  of  a  shepherd's  lyre,  and 
a  clear  triumphant  voice  singing  a  song  like  a  pjrim  of 
victory.  Advancing  further  we  came  to  a  group  of 
rocks  around  which  the  sheep  were  collected,  where 
stood  the  victor  holding  a  rude  triangular  harp,  having 
strings  of  unequal  length,  upon  which  lie  was  playing, 
while  he  chanted  these  words,  evidently  composed  as  he 
sang  them  : — 

1 '  I  will  say  of  the  Lord  he  is  my  refuge  and  my  fortress  1 
My  God,  in  him  will  I  trust. 
He  sliall  cover  me  with  his  feathers, 
And  under  his  wings  will  I  rest. 
A  thousand  shall  fall  at  the  side, 
And  ten  thousand  at  the  right  hand, 
Of  him,  who  makes  the  Lord  his  refuge, 
And  the  Most  High  his  habitation. 
He  shall  tread  upon  the  lion  and  the  bear, 
The  young  lion  and  the  dragon  shall  he  trample  under  feet1 


I  (SO  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID:    OR, 

For  he  that  dwelleth  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord, 

Shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Most  High  Grod. 

Blessed  be  the  Lord  foreverinore. 

Amen  and  Amen !' 

"  The  flock,  under  the  influence  of  his  melodious  voice, 
seemed  to  dismiss  their  terror  and  peaceably  to  listen. 

"  When  this  hymn  of  confidence  and  victory  was  ended, 
he  looked  and  beheld  me  standing  near,  regarding 
his  seraphic  countenance,  pale  yet  beautiful,  with  deep 
interest.  He  laid  the  lyre  upon  the  rock,  and  ad 
vanced  towards  us,  his  left  hand  wrapped  in  the  fold  of 
his  shepherd's  mantle,  against  which  he  had  held  the 
rustic  harp. 

a<You  are  strangers,'  he  at  first  said.  'Have  you 
lost  your  way?'  He  then  added:  'I  think  I  see  here 
the  king's  sons !' 

"'You  are  right;  we  are  the  sons  of  Saul,'  I  an 
swered,  supposing  he  had,  as  proved  to  be  the  truth, 
seen  us  in  the  city  of  Mizpeh  where  we  then  dwelt,  and 
which  most  Hebrews  visit  once  or  twice  in  a  year.  '  I 
have  not  lost  my  way,  young  shepherd  ;  but  we  witnessed 
your  brave  combat  with  the  bear  and  the  lion !  We 
could  not  reach  you  in  time  to  save  you,  the  unequal 
combat  was  so  soon  ended  to  your  glory.  I  have  has 
tened  hither  to  take  you,  brave  Hebrew  youth,  by  the 
hand,  and  tell  you  how  I  admire  your  courage  and  that 
you  and  Jonathan,  son  of  Saul,  must  from  this  hour  be 
friends  !  I  see  by  your  face  that  I  shall  love  you  by-aiid- 
by  for  your  virtues,  as  now  I  honor  you  for  your  bra 
very.  No  man-at-arms,  no  warrior  among  our  chief 
captains,  no  lord  of  ten  thousand  men  could  have  won 
a  more  brilliant  victory.  What  is  thy  name?  It  will 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.     181 

yet  be  spoken  in  the  land,  if  thou  livest,  by  the  side  of 
those  of  the  greatest  and  best.' 

u'You  praise  me,  0  prince,  beyond  my  deserts,'  he 
answered,  blushing.  <  I  have  only  done  my  duty :  as  a 
faithful  shepherd  is  bound  to  protect  his  lambs  from 
their  foes  !  It  was  God  who  gave  me  the  victory,  and 
not  my  own  arm,  and  to  Him  be  the  praise  !  I  am 
called  David,  the  son  of  Jesse,  and  I  am  a  shepherd !' 

'• k  And  also  a  skillful  player  on  the  harp,  and  an  heroic 
poet,'  I  said,  smiling,  'if  that  hymn  was  yours.' 

u  '1  was  but  giving  God  grateful  praise  for  my  victory 
and  my  life,'  he  answered.  'Besides  I  find  my  music 
soothes  my  poor  flock  when  terrified.  It  is  the  voice  of 
peace  and  security  in  their  ears  !' 

'"You  appear  to  suffer,'  I  said,  'and  are  wounded/ 
I  saw  that  the  claws  of  the  bear  were  stained  with  blood.' 

"'Yes!  The  flesh  of  my  arm  is  torn  a  little,'  he  said 
lightly  ;  '  but  it  will  soon  be  well.  We  mountain  shep 
herds  do  not  heed  slight  scratches  from  wild  beasts  if  we 
come  in  contact  with  them  in  defence  of  our  flocks.' 

"  The  more  I  heard  him  discourse,  0  Prince  Arbaces, 
the  more  my  heart  went  out  to  him.  I  forgot  gazelles 
und  all  else  in  his  company.  At  eventide  I  accompanied 
him  as  he  drove  his  flock  across  the  valley  to  their  fold, 
near  the  abode  of  his  father  Jesse.  It  was  late  when 
my  brother  and  I  left  him,  and  returned  to  the  town  of 
Bethlehem,  whence  we  had  come  out  on  our  hunting  ex 
pedition. 

*'  Our  fair  sister,  who,  as  well  as  my  brother  and  myself, 
was  then  on  a  visit  to  the  warlike  Abner,  my  father's 
uncle,  and  general  of  his  armies,  was  not  at  all  pleased 
that  we  had  forgotten  her  gazelle  for  a  lion -fighting 


182  THE   THRONE    OF    D^VLD;    OR, 

young  shepherd,  and  said  she  cared  not  how  handsome 
or  brave  he  was,  for  she  liked  him  not  to  cause  her  so 
great  a  disappointment.  The  next  day  I  made  to  her  a 
promise  to  hunt  a  gazelle  the  following  morning,  when, 
as  I  was  speaking  to  her,  the  youthful  shepherd  pre 
sented  himself  at  the  gate  of  the  court  yard,  carrying  a 
beautiful  fawn  upon  his  shoulder.  I  at  once  sprang  joy 
fully  to  meet  him. 

"  He  said  modestly,  '  I  heard  your  brother,  0  prince, 
say  yesterday,  how  disappointed  his  sister,  the  princess 
Michal,  would  feel  that  he  did  not  capture  a  gazelle  to 
bring  to  her.  Here  is  one  I  have  this  morning  taken, 
and  have  brought  it  hither,  hoping  to  be  permitted  to 
present  it  to  the  king's  daughter  !' 
"Upon  this  my  sister  looked  perplexed,  and  her  generous 
blushes  told  how  sorry  she  felt  for  having  spoken  such 
severe  words  about  the  youthful  shepherd,  whose  beau 
tiful  countenance,  and  dark,  expressive,  yet  bashful  eyes 
made  her  cast  down  her  own.  Instead  of  suffering  me 
to  reward  him,  she  seemed  resolved  to  make  amends ; 
for  rising,  she  went  to  him,  thanked  him  in  the  hand 
somest  manner  for  his  kindness,  graciously  accepted  the 
gift  he  had  brought,  and  presented  him  with  a  ring  of 
gold  from  her  own  hand.  His  youthful  diffidence  would 
have  led  him  to  refuse  the  jewel ;  but  I  insisted  he  should 
retain  it.  As  my  sister  wished  to  take  the  gazelle  home 
with  her  to  Mizpeh  the  following  week,  the  young  shep 
herd  gave  her  some  directions  as  to  its  care  and  nourish 
ment,  for  which  she  expressed  herself  very  grateful. 

<;I  then  took  him  over  the  stately  house  of  my  uncle, 
and  showed  him  the  gardens  and  whatever  was  interest 
ing  ;  and  ^  lien  he  left  to  return  to  his  flock,  I  accom- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.     183 

panied  "him  some  distance  beyond  the  city-gates,  and  took 
leave  of  him  by  embracing  him.  We  there  pledged  to 
each  other  firm  and  abiding  friendship  ;  for  our  hearts 
had  grown  together,  his  to  mine  and  mine  to  his,  every 
hour  of  our  pleasant  intercourse.  He  was  so  refined  and 
so  courteous ;  so  ingenuous  and  modest ;  so  intelligent  and 
amiable ;  and  withal  so  brave  and  humane,  that  not  to 
have  loved  him,  would  have  been  not  to  love  any  of  those 
qualities  which  seemed,  in  him,  to  have  their  natural 
home." 

Here,  your  majesty,  the  Hebrew  prince,  who  in  him 
self  seems  to  combine  all  the  noble  virtues  he  had  just 
enumerated,  paused  in  his  narrative ;  for  at  the  very  in 
stant  the  loud  clangor  of  a  brazen  bugle  rang  from  the 
battlements  of  the  city,  was  answered  from  the  citadel, 
and  then  responded  to  from  the  camp,  while  the  cliffs 
and  hills  gave  back  in  reverberating  echoes  the  warlike 
notes. 

"  It  is  the  signal  for  changing  the  guard  on  the  walls, 
and  to  announce  that  '  all  is  well,'  in  city  and  camp,"  he 
said,  after  a  moment's  attention  to  the  sounds. 

At  the  first  blast  I  feared  that  it  was  an  alarum  of 
danger,  and  that  the  enemy  were  near.  But  as  our  out 
posts  penetrate  nearly  to  the  camp  of  the  Philistines,  we 
should  have  had  early  intelligence  of  a  hostile  move 
ment. 

u  I  will  now  resume  niy  narrative,"  said  the  Prince 
Jonathan,  turning  towards  me.  "  For  several  months 
the  youthful  David  and  I  met  only  to  increase  our  mutual 
regard.  At  length  my  father's  spirits  became  so  pro 
foundly  depressed  by  the  consciousness  of  the  anger  of 
God,  tho  departure  of  his  Divine  Spirit  from  him,  and 


184  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

the  threatened  loss  of  his  crown,  that  a  gloomy,  appre 
hensive  melancholy  seized  fixedly  upon  his  soul.  Resort 
to  the  most  skillful  of  the  court  physicians  for  remedies 
for  his  diseased  mind,  was  naturally  unsuccessful.  They 
could  not  minister  to  a  disease  that  was  seated  beyond 
the  reach  of  human  art.  He  passed  his  days  in  stern 
silence,  and  with  a  fixed  look  of  despair  impressed  upon 
his  noble  features.  He  refused  to  recognize  his  wife  or 
children  ;  and  at  times  became  so  violent  in  the  paroxysms 
which  came  upon  him,  that  no  man  dared  approach  him. 

"In  hopes  of  aid  I  sought  the  Seer  Samuel  who  was 
then  at  Gibeah,  not  far  distant.  The  prophet  answered 
me  that  God  had  spoken  and  his  word  must  be  accom 
plished,  that  he  had  taken  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  from 
Saul  my  father,  and  given  him  over  to  an  evil  spirit  be 
cause  he  had  not  obeyed  the  Spirit  of  God.  '  God  is  not 
a  man  that  he  should  repent  or  lie;  what  he  hath  ordained 
must  surely  come  to  pass.' 

"Such  was  the  reply  I  received  from  the  sympathizing 
prophet.  I  then  returned  to  my  father  in  great  sorrow 
of  heart.  As  I  drew  near  the  house  an  aged,  dark-browed 
man  whom  I  had  never  before  seen,  clad  in  a  foreign  at 
tire,  met  me  and  said, 

"  i  Art  thou  the  king's  son  ?' 

"I  answered  him,  'Yes.'  He  then  said,  '  Thou  and 
the  Elders  and  the  chief  physicians  seek  to  find  a  cure 
for  the  malady  that  is  upon  my  lord  the  king.  I  am  a 
stranger  who  has  visited  far-distant  lands.  Many  years 
ago  I  was  at  the  court  of  Sheba,  the  kingdom  whence 
come  the  rich  pearls  of  the  merchants.  The  king 
thereof,  whose  chief  city  is  called  Meroe,  had  a  son,  the 
sole  heir  tc  his  throne,  who  was  afflicted  with  gloom  and 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      185 

melancholy  not  unlike  what  hangs  upon  the  soul  of  thy 
royal  father.  He  would  refuse  all  food,  and  stand  for 
hours,  yea,  whole  days  and  nights,  in  the  far  corner  of 
his  chamber,  and  gnaw  his  finger  nails  and  rivet  his 
glazed*  and  burning  eyes  upon  the  floor  without  ever 
moving  the  eyelids.  He  became  emaciated  to  the  bone, 
and  his  visage  wTas  terrible  with  the  impress  of  despair.' 

"  i  By  what  was  this  caused  ?'  I  asked  of  the  old  man. 

" '  It  was  caused  by  his  love  for  a  maiden  who  was  torn 
in  pieces  by  lions  as  she  was  traveling  in  her  palanquin 
to  her  father's  palace  near  the  sea-side  !'  he  answered 
me.  'At  length  one  of  the  physicians,  an  Egyptian 
magician,  finding  all  incantations  failed,  thus  spoke  to  the 
King  of  Sheba  his  father,  and  said, 

" ' "  If  my  lord,  the  mighty  king  of  the  south,  will  see  his 
son  restored  to  health  and  the  evil  spirit  depart  from 
him,  let  him  order  the  sweetest  minstrelsy  to  be  per 
formed  within  his  hearing.  Let  the  king  command  the 
most  skillful  musicians  in  his  kingdom  to  play  melodious 
airs  and  the  most  pleasing  within  their  art,  and  the  prince 
will  be  restored  to  himself.  For,  my  lord  the  king,  the 
fiercest  hearts  have  been  tamed  by  music ;  and  there  was 
a  princess  of  Persia,  who,  being  lost  in  a  forest,  was  met 
by  a  wild  beast  which  began  to  crouch  in  order  to  spring 
upon  her,  when  she  commenced  chanting  her  death-song, 
according  to  the  faith  of  her  fathers ;  for  she  was  a 
Sabean  !  Her  voice  was  so  sweet  and  thrilling,  that  the 
monster  remained  transfixed,  listening  to  the  wonderful 
music  I  his  fiery  eyes  lost  their  burning  glare  and  became 
as  soft  and  gentle  as  a  fawn's ;  and  his  whole  attitude 
showed  that  he  was  fascinated  by  the  melody  of  her 
Bong.  This  perceiving,  she  drew  near  to  the  lion,  still 


186  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

softly  singing,  laid  her  hand  upon  his  shaggy  mane  and 
led  him  by  her  side  until  she  came  to  the  gate  of  her 
father's  palace ;  when  the  sentinels  seeing  the  strange 
sight  shot  at  him  with  their  cross  bows  and  slew  him ; 
but  he  died  licking  with  his  tongue  her  delicate  white 
hand!" 

"'When  the  King  of  Sheba  heard  this,'  continued 
the  aged  stranger,  '  and  was  further  informed  that  the 
loss  of  reason  in  man  often  allied  him  in  ferocity  to  the 
wild  beast  of  the 'desert,  he  commanded  the  most  cun 
ning  players  to  play  before  the  prince.  The  result  was 
he  was  wholly  cured,  and  to  this  day  sits  upon  the 
throne  of  Sheba  a  wise  and  powerful  prince.  Now,  my 
lord,'  continued  the  venerable  stranger  to  Jonathan, 
Met  some  one  who  plays  cunningly  on  the  harp  and 
sings  with  wonderful  melody,  be  sent  for  to  play  before 
the  king  your  father.  Without  doubt  he  will  be  restored 
thereby  to  health ;  for  music  hath  a  charm  to  soothe  the 
ferocity  of  a  mind  where  despair  hath  taken  the  reins.' 

"Such,"  said  Jonathan  to  me,  "  was  the  counsel  of 
the  venerable  stranger  in  the  foreign  attire,  who,  having 
finished  speaking,  courteously  left  me,  and  I  saw  him  no 
more.  I  at  once  sought  the  chief  physician  and  grand- 
chamberlain,  and  high-steward,  with  all  the  lords  and 
men  of  estate  at  court,  and  made  known  to  them  w^hat 
I  had  heard.  They  were  all  in  favor  of  trying  the  tran- 
quilizing  effects  of  music,  and,  at  my  request,  two  of  them 
went  into  the  presence  of  my  father,  (for  he  could  not 
bear  to  see  me,  and  was  always  most  violent  when  I  came 
aear,)  to  propose  it  to  him." 

" Perhaps,"  I  ventured  to  say  to  Jonathan,  "the  con 
sciousness  that  he  had  wronged  you  by  causing  the 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      187 

rurning  away  of  the  inheritance  from  you  embittered 
his  mind." 

"Without  doubt  it  was  this,  my  dear  Arbaces,"  he 
sadly  replied ;  "  but  I  do  not  feel  that  my  father  has 
wronged  me !  I  have  no  desire  to  reign,  if  it  be  God's 
•will  to  deprive  me  of  the  succession  to  the  crown.  Da 
vid,  as  a  shepherd,  is  happy ;  and  a  life  of  lowly  duties 
is  the  safest  if  not  the  happiest.  The  crown  of  a  king 
is  lined  with  a  bonnet  of  nettles,  and  his  sceptre  of  gold 
is  often  like  lead  in  his  grasp  !  When  the  physicians  and 
wise  men  came  into  the  presence  of  the  king,  he  was 
seated  upon  the  ground  with  a  fixed  gaze  upon  vacancy 
and  his  visage  all  marred  by  suffering.  As  they  entered, 
he  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  cried  furiously : 

'"Who  dare  intrude?  I  am  king  still,  and  by  the 
Ark  of  God  !  I  will  let  no  man  scorn  me  !  They  say  I 
am  mad  !  No,  no  !'  and  his  tone  here  fell  to  a  touching  pa 
thos.  'I  am  only  heart-broken — heart-broken — that — 
that  is  all !  I  have  sinned,  I  have  repented,  I  lie  in  the 
dust,  I  cry  for  mercy,  but  the  great  brassy  skies  are 
turned  into  one  vast  throne  of  justice  !  The  prophet 
hath  said  my  repentance  is  not  sincere,  and  therefore 
God  will  not  accept  it !  That  it  is  only  remorse  !  Is 
this  remorse?  Look  ye!  See  my  haggard  eyes  and 
hollow  cheeks  !  Behold  my  thin  hands  and  my  wasted 
form  !  Can  remorse  do  this  ?  No,  no  !  I  have  repented 
in  the  dust,  I  grovel  in  the  earth,  I  lay  my  face  where 
the  worm  crawls,  I  prostrate  myself  under  the  very 
ground  in  my  humble  contrition  !  But  all  is  vain  !  The 
haughty  prophet  says  it  is  not  repentance,  only  remorse, 
and  God  hears  not  remorse  !  I  only  ask  for  my  king 
dom  for  my  son,  though  I  perish  !  What  come  ye  for  ?* 


188  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

he  abruptly  demanded,  as  if  noticing  them  now  for  the 
first  time ! 

"  '  My  lord,'  said  the  chief  physician,  for  unseen  I  heard 
all,"  continued  Jonathan,  "'without  doubt  an  evil  spirit 
is  permitted  by  the  Lord  to  be  upon  thee,  and  troubleth 
thee,  in  this  manner !  Let  my  lord  the  king  now  com 
mand  thy  servants  to  seek  out  a  man  who  is  a  cunning 
player  on  an  harp,  and,  peradventure,  when  the  evil  spi 
rit  is  upon  thee  he  shall  play  upon  the  harp,  and  the 
cheerful  and  animating  sounds  thereof  will  soothe  thy 
troubled  spirit !' 

"My  father  no  sooner  heard  them  than  he  cried  with 
eagerness  :  '  Haste !  provide  a  man  that  can  play  well 
arid  bring  him  before  me  !  Thy  medicines,  0  physician, 
touch  not  the  sore !  We  will  see  what  virtue  lieth  in 
this  prescription  of  music  !' 

"  Then,  previously  instructed  by  me,  the  grand-cham 
berlain  said :  '  There  is  a  young  man,  son  of  Jesse  of 
Bethlehem,  who  is  a  cunning  player  on  the  harp,  a  youth 
of  valor  and  warlike  deeds,  modest  in  demeanor,  pru 
dent  in  conduct,  and  wonderfully  comely  in  person,  and 
the  Lord  is  with,  him !' 

"'Who  knoweth  where  this  Jesse,  the  lad's  father, 
dwelleth?'  cried  the  king. 

"'We  can  presently  find  him,  0  king,'  answered  the 
chief  physician. 

The  light  of  hope  at  once  brightened  my  father's 
countenance.  He  bade  the  messengers  depart  with  haste, 
and  under  his  own  signature  sent  a  message  to  Jesse  the 
Bethlehemite,  reading  thus : — 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      189 


"SAUL,  THE  KING,  J 

To  JESSE,  THE  EPHUATHITE,  TRIBE  OF  JCDAH  :  Greeting.  \ 

"  I  hear  thou  hast  a  son,  called  David,  a  shepherd, 
\vho  is  skilled  on  the  harp.  If  rumor  hath  told  the 
truth  of  him,  send  him  hither  to  me,  I  have  need  of 
him.  It  shall  fare  well  with  him,  and  he  shall  be  sent 
back  to  thee  in  safety." 

"  The  message  was  at  once  placed  in  my  hands  by  the 
chief  physician,"  continued  the  prince,  "and  I  gladly 
hastened  to  the  valley  where  David  kept  his  flock.  As 
I  drew  near  I  beheld  the  stately-looking  Jesse,  and  his 
seven  tall  sons  at  work  in  the  field  preparing  a  threshing- 
floor  for  the  coming  harvest.  As  I  came  to  them  I  asked 
if  David  were  not  in  the  valley  with  the  sheep?  Jesse 
smiled  and  said  : — 

" '  Noble  prince,  I  fear  thy  frequent  notice  of  the  lad 
will  make  him  vain  !  I  marvel  that  such  a  friendship 
should  spring  up  between  the  son  of  a  king  and  the  son 
of  a  shepherd?' 

"'Were  not  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  our  fathers, 
shepherds  ?'  I  answered  pleasantly.  '  But  I  have  a 
message  for  thee  from  King  Saul !'  I  then  placed  the 
missive  in  his  hand.  He  read  it  with  a  respectful  air, 
and  then  replied, 

" '  The  king  does  us  too  much  honor  !' 

"'What  is  it?'  asked  the  black-bearded  Eliab,  the 
eldest  son,  in  a  haughty  way  peculiar  to  him. 

" '  The  king  has  sent  for  David/  answered  Jesse,  with 
a  look  of  paternal  pride. 

" '  The  boy  will  next  fancy  his  cross-headed  crook  a 


100  THE   THROXE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

sceptre,  and  weave  him  a  crown  out  of  the  hedge  thorn/ 
responded  Eliab  bitterly ;  '  and  he  will  ere  long  strut  about 
us  as  Joseph  of  old,  and  bid  us  make  obeisance  to  him, 
and  say,  u  Hail,  David,  King  of  Israel !"  ' 

"  '  Silence,  my  son  !  If  thy  brother  is  honored  by  the 
king  and  Prince  Jonathan,  is  it  not  also  thine  own  honor? 
There  is  surely  something  yet  to  show  itself  in  the 
youth !  Hast  thou  forgotten  the  visit  of  the  Seer  two 
years  ago,  and  his  anointing  him  ?' 

"  '  And  what  has  come  of  it  ?'  cried  Abinadab,  the  next 
to  the  eldest,  with  a  sneer  in  his  narrow  and  envious 
eyes.  '  Hasn't  he  still  kept  to  his  sheep  ?' 

" '  We  expected  to  see  somewhat  come  of  so  much  cack 
ling  as  was  made  when  the  Seer  mocked  us  seven  breth 
ren  to  empty  his  horn  of  oil  on  this  pretty  boy's  head ;' 
growled  the  third  brother  in  a  hoarse  voice ;  i  but  the 
prophet  hath  not  been  here  since ;  and  the  boy's  pride  is 
left,  like  his  sheep's  wool,  to  dangle  upon  the  hedges.' 

"'Hist,  men!'  said  Jesse.  'The  lad  had  no  pride. 
He  sought  not  the  honor,  whatsoever  may  come  of  it. 
Go  and  find  my  son  David,'  he  continued,  addressing 
me,  '  and  take  him  with  thee  to  the  king/ 

"  I  departed  from  them,  and  at  length  beheld  David  afar 
off  with  his  flock,  leading  them  to  a  well  to  water  them. 
When  he  saw  me  he  stood  still,  and  awaited  my  coming." 

"When  Samuel  anointed  the  son  of  Jesse,"  I  now  in 
quired  of  the  prince,  your  majesty,  "  did  he  inform  him 
for  what  purpose  it  was  done  ?  Did  Jesse  and  his  brothers 
certainly  know?" 

"I  will  anticipate  my  narrative,  and  tell  thee,  0  Arba- 
ces,  about  that,"  answered  the  prince.  "When  the  Lord 
had  caused  the  King  Agag,  the  haughty  and  vain  Ama- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      191 

lekite,  whom  my  father  had  spared,  to  be  slain,  and  tho 
booty  he  had  possessed  destroyed,  he  called  Samuel  to 
Him,  and  said,  'I  have  rejected  Saul  from  being  king. 
Fill  thine  horn  of  anointing  with  holy  oil,  and  go  to 
Bethlehem,  and  to  Jesse  the  Ephrathite  there,  for  I  have 
chosen  me  a  king  among  his  sons.'  But  the  prophet 
hesitated,  saying,  '  If  Saul  heareth  this,  he  will  slay  me.* 
But  the  Lord  said,  '  Go  to  Bethlehem,  and  there  sacrifice 
unto  me  a  heifer.  Call  Jesse  and  his  sons  to  partake  of 
the  sacrifice,  and  thou  shalt  anoint  the  young  man  I  shall 
name  unto  thee.'  So  the  prophet  came  into  Bethlehem, 
and  his  presence  there  filled  the  city  with  alarm ;  for  the 
Seer  Samuel  was  regarded  as  the  dispenser  of  the  judg 
ments  of  God  ;  and  the  people  of  Bethlehem  trembled  for 
fear  he  was  to  visit  them  with  some  retribution.  '  Comest 
thou  peaceably  ?'  they  inquired  of  him.  He  answered, 
'  Peaceably.  Let  the  elders  of  the  city  sanctify  them 
selves,  and  come  and  sacrifice  with  me  before  the  Lord. 
Let  Jesse  and  his  sons  be  also  called  !'  When  the  pro 
phet  looked  upon  Eliab,  who  was  of  lofty  stature,  and 
bold  countenance,  *  Surely,'  said  Samuel,  'this  is  the 
Lord's  anointed,  who  is  to  reign  instead  of  Saul.'  But 
the  Lord  said,  '  Look  not  on  the  countenance  nor  the 
form ;  for  I  have  refused  him !  I,  the  Lord,  look  upon 
the  heart  !'  Then  Samuel  said  to  Jesse  privately,  1 1 
have  a  great  honor  from  the  Lord,  for  one  of  thy  sons. 
What  is  the  name  of  the  second  young  man  ?'  Then 
Jesse  answered,  '  His  name  is  Abinadab ;'  and  he  bade 
him  rise  and  walk  before  the  prophet.  But  the  Seer, 
instructed  inwardly  by  the  voice  of  God,  said  to  Jesse, 
'Neither  hath  the  Lord  chosen  him!'  Then,  one  after 
another,  Jesse  made  the  seven  of  his  sons  present  tu  pass 


192  THE    THROVE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

before  Samuel,  when  the  prophet  said  to  their  father, 
'  The  Lord  hath  not  chosen  either  of  these !  Are  here 
all  thy  children  ?' 

"And  Jesse  answered  with  an  air  of  disappointment, 
4  There  remaineth  David  the  youngest,  a  mere  lad,  who 
is  with  the  sheep  !' 

61  i  Then,'  said  the  prophet,  re-assured,  '  send  and  fetch 
him  ;  for  we  will  not  sit  down  to  the  feast  until  he  come.' 

"  Then  Jesse  sent  his  servant  with  haste  into  the  field 
after  his  youngest  son,  who  found  him  with  the  flock, 
and  peacefully  amusing  himself  by  playing  upon  his  rustic 
harp,  which,  with  his  clear,  sweet  voice,  they  heard  borne 
to  their  ears  on  the  breeze  even  before  they  discovered  him. 

" '  Haste  ;  thy  father  sendeth  for  thee  !'  said  the  mes 
senger.  '  I  will  remain  with  the  sheep  till  thou  re- 
turnest.  Make  all  diligence,  for  the  mighty  prophet  of 
God  of  Ramah  is  there,  and  he  has  killed  the  sacrifice, 
and  they  only  wait  for  thee  to  sit  down  !  All  thy  broth 
ers  are  there !' 

"  Then  the  youth  hastened  to  obey  his  father,  wondering 
why  he  should  be  sent  for.  When  he  entered  their  pres 
ence,  the  eyes  of  Samuel  rested  upon  his  ruddy  and 
beautiful  countenance,  softly  shaded  by  exposure  to  the 
sun  and  winds  of  the  desert,  and  the  Lord  said,  *  Arise 
and  anoint  him,  for  this  is  he  !' 

"Then  the  man  of  God  arose,  and  commanding  the 
embarrassed  and  blushing  boy  to  kneel  before  him,  he 
poured  upon  his  head  the  holy  oil  of  consecration  from 
the  same  horn  of  anointing  with  which  he  had  anointed 
Saul,  my  father,  King,  many  years  before.  No  sooner 
had  this  sacred  rite  been  performed,  than  the  Spirit  of 
inspiration  from  God  departed  from  Saul  as  he  sat  in 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PEINCE  ABSALOM.      19b 

his  own  house,  and  at  the  same  instant  descended  upon 
David.  Under  its  influence,  the  consecrated  youth  seized 
his  harp  and  struck  it  to  a  sublime  symphony  which 
seemed  to  be  caught  from  the  harps  of  angels.  All 
were  amazed  at  the  rapturous  adoration  of  his  counten 
ance,  the  holy  light  in  his  eyes,  the  celestial  brightness 
of  his  form !  This  lasted  only  for  a  moment ;  and  he 
then  retired  modestly  as  if  seeking  to  withdraw  himself 
from  notice.  Samuel  went  forth  after  him  and  said  to 
him  privately : 

"  '  David,  son  of  Jesse,  thou  art  now  the  chosen  and 
anointed  of  the  Lord  to  rule  his  people  Israel.  Keep 
in  thy  heart  the  secret  until  the  day  thou  shalt  be  called 
to  do  God's  work.  Be  true  and  faithful  to  thyself  and 
to  thy  God,  and  all  will  be  well  with  thee  ;  but  depart  from 
the  precepts  of  the  Lord,  and  his  Holy  Spirit,  given  thee 
this  day,  will  be  taken  away  from  thee.  God  chose  thee 
for  the  beauty  of  thy  piety,  not  of  thy  form,  for  he  sees 
the  heart;  for  thy  righteousness,  truth,  fortitude,  and 
obedience  to  thy  parents,  and  for  the  purity  of  thy  soul. 
Keep  thyself  pure,  and  thy  reign,  when  thou  shalt  be 
called  to  the  throne,  will  be  famed  throughout  the  earth 
for  its  splendor,  power,  and  glory.  Thy  arms  shall  be 
victorious  against  all  thy  country's  enemies,  thy  life  shall 
be  long  and  thy  fame  great,  and  thou  shalt  leave  a  name 
to  posterity  higher  than  that  of  any  of  the  kings  and 
potentates  of  the  world.  But  if  thou  in  thy  prosperity 
foreettest  God,  He  will  bring  upon  thee  evils  instead  of 
blessings,  and  thy  gray  hairs  shall  go  down  with  sorrow 
and  humiliation  to  the  grave.' 

"  When  the  prophet  had  thus  solemnly  addressed  him, 

he  left  him  and  returned  to  E^-mah,  and  David 
13 


194          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

between  joy  and  fear,  hardly  realizing  what  had  passed, 
returned  to  his  flock  in  the  desert  and  gave  himself  up 
to  meditation  and  prayer,  humbly  and  devoutly  looking 
to  God  for  guidance  and  strength  to  do  all  that  should 
be  required  of  him." 

"Then,"  remarked  I  to  Prince  Jonathan,  "the  real 
purpose  of  the  anointing  was  not  known  to  Jesse  or 
his  sons." 

"No,"  answered  the  prince.  "  They  believed  it  was 
to  select  him  as  a  prophet ;  and  as  the  Seer  has  since 
taken  him  to  Ramah  and  placed  him  in  the  School  of  the 
Prophets,  this  opinion  is  recently  fully  confirmed  in  their 
minds.  Jesse,  the  father,  has  regarded  his  son  from  that 
time  with  reverent  curiosity  and  expectation ;  but  the 
brothers,  whom  Samuel  one  by  one  passed  by,  to  send 
for  David  from  the  sheep-fold,  have  envied  him  and  en 
treated  him  unfilially ;  so  that  it  is  alone  my  friendship 
which  sustains  his  noble  heart  in  its  solitude." 

"And  you,  my  generous  prince,  you,"  I  said,  admiring 
the  unselfish  character  he  had  exhibited,  "knowing  all 
this,  have  taken  him  to  your  bosom  as  your  dearest  friend. 
How  wonderful  is  this  !  How  opposed  to  what  are  the 
impulses  of  our  nature  !  Was  it  before  this  anointing  and 
supplanting  you  in  the  throne  that  you  first  saw  him  in  his 
encounter  with  the  lion  and  the  bear?" 

"  Yes ;  it  was  after  that  encounter,  Arbaces,  he  was 
visited  and  consecrated  by  Samuel.  Our  friendship  had 
long  before  this  anointing  been  sealed  by  mutual  attach 
ment  !"  he  answered. 

"And  when  you  heard  that  your  friend  had  become 
your  rival  in  the  succession,  did  it  not  shake  your  friend 
ship  ?"  I  asked. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      195 

"  No ;  but  rather  confirmed  it,  my  Arbaces,"  was  the 
frank  and  beautiful  reply.  "  I  felt  then  that  God  loved 
him  whom  I  loved,  and  that  he  ought  to  be  still  dearer 
to  me  than  before.  I  had  already  heard  from  the  pro 
phet,  and  also  from  words  which  fell  from  my  father's 
lips  that  another  was  to  be  chosen  to  wield  his  sceptre, 
and  that  my  claim  as  hereditary  prince  royal  would  be 
set  aside  by  God.  As  I  have  before  told  you,  this  news 
pained  me  at  first,  but  all  ended  in  humble  submission 
to  the  will  of  Jehovah  in  my  heart.  When  at  length  I 
learned  that  the  prophet  of  God  had  been  to  Bethlehem 
and  consecrated  my  beloved  David,  my  bosom  friend,  to  be 
Prince  of  Israel  in  my  stead,  I  can  truly  say  I  rejoiced 
at  the  tidings,  0  Arbaces,  for  I  had  long  ceased  to 
expect  to  receive  the  throne.  I  rejoiced,  therefore, 
and  blessed  God  that  his  choice  had  fallen  on  one  so 
worthy." 

"  You  have  a  noble  and  godlike  nature,  my  dear 
prince,"  I  cried,  with  enthusiasm,  grasping  his  hand, 
and  warmly  pressing  it  to  my  heart.  "  In  such  a  trial 
a  man  will  either  act  above  or  below  his  instincts ;  show 
the  God  within  him  or  the  evil  spirit  of  the  earth  !  You 
have  acted  above  humanity  !  How  did  you  meet  after 
this  news?  How  did  the  young  shepherd,  conscious  of 
what  his  new  position  was,  deport  himself  in  your  pre- 

n  5  j 

sence : 

"  I  first  heard  of  the  consecration,"  answered  Jonathan, 
''from  one  who  was  at  the  sacrificial  feast  in  Bethlehem. 
He  was  a  Levite  of  rank  and  my  friend.  He  well  knew 
that  the  consecration  was  not  priestly  but  royal,  and  that 
the  youth  on  whose  head  the  sacred  ointment  was  poured 
was  ordained  to  become  a  king,  not  a  priest!  Upon 


196  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

hearing  this  intelligence,  I  requested  him  to  keep  it  a 
secret  in  his  own  breast  that  it  might  riot  reach  my 
father's  ears,  (for  though  he  knew  that  God  would  choose 
another,  he  knew  not  whom  it  would  be,)  and  then  I  has 
tened  to  find  this  shepherd  prince  to  congratulate  him 
on  this  honor  from  God.  I  found  him  amid  his  flock. 
Upon  beholding  me  approach,  he  turned  aside  his  face, 
and  pressed  his  hands  together  upon  his  breast  in  an 
attitude  of  sorrow  and  distress.  I  understood  what  was 
in  his  heart  by  this  troubled  gesture,  and  hastened  to 
relieve  him  from  his  painful  situation  by  flying  to  his 
side,  putting  my  arm  about  his  neck  and  embracing  him 
with  the  tenderest  affection  !" 

"  How  good,  how  noble,  how  great  you  were,  0  Jona 
than,  most  virtuous  of  princes!"  I  exclaimed,  unable  to 
repress  my  admiration  of  the  sublimity  of  his  exalted 
character. 

In  all  the  histories  given  by  our  poets  of  our  august 
and  divine  heroes  not  one,  your  majesty,  comes  near  in 
conception  to  the  character  of  this  Hebrew  prince.  I 
had  already  seen,  but  a  few  days  past  at  Ramah,  full 
proof  of  his  love  and  affection  for  his  "rival,"  if  this 
word  I  can  make  use  of,  where  rivalry  there  is  none ! 

The  prince,  taking  no  notice  of  my  admiring  language, 
continued  his  narration  : — 

"  My  dear  David,  instead  of  returning  my  caresses, 
burst  into  a  profusion  of  tears,  and  walked  from  me  pro 
foundly  agitated,  saying,  '  If  thou  knewest  all,  my  lord, 
thou  wouldst  despise  thy  David  instead  of  embracing 
him  thus  !' 

"  <  All !'  I  replied  ;    <  what  hast  thou  done  ?' 

" l  Ruined  thee,  my  dearest  friend  !     Robbed  thee  of 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      197 

thy  birthright !  I  have  been  to  thee,  0  Jonathan,  more 
cruel  than  was  Jacob  to  Esau  !  But,'  he  cried,  sud 
denly  turning  towards  me  and  clasping  his  hands  im 
ploringly,  '  forgive  me  !  I  will  tell  thee  all !  I  knew 
it  not !  I  would  have  refused  the  consecration  if  I  had 
known  to  what  I  was  dedicated !  But  I  will  conceal 
nothing  from  thee,  even  though  it  cost  me  thy  friendship, 
as  it  ought  and  will  do !  Nay,  it  ought  to  make  thee 
spurn  me!  Listen!' 

" '  Cease  to  afflict  thyself,  dear  David,'  I  replied,  moved 
by  his  emotion  even  to  tears.  '  I  know  all !  Thou  hast 
been  highly  honored  of  God !  The  prophet  of  the 
Highest  has  anointed  thee  with  oil  above  thy  brethren, 
and  thou  art  set  apart  to  reign  over  Israel  at  my  father's 
doath  !  I  have  heard  all,  you  see  !  Let  it  not  distress 
thee  !  Whom  God  hath  chosen  was  before,  and  shall  be 
still, the  chosen  of  my  heart!' 

" '  Who  told  thee?'  he  asked,  regarding  me  with  doubt 
and  looks  of  wonder. 

"'Eli,  the  Levite  who  was  present,'  I  replied,  with 
an  encouraging  smile  in  my  eyes.  '  The  celestial  fra 
grance  of  the  holy  oil  is  even  yet  about  thy  princely  head, 
my  David!' 

'"And  thou  despisest  me  not?'  he  exclaimed. 

" '  No,  but  love  thee  doubly  since  now  thou  art  so  be 
loved  of  God !' 

'"  Dost  thou  forgive  me?'  he  asked,  still  hesitatingly. 

"  '  I  have  nothing  to  forgive,  my  David  !  Thou  hast 
no  blame !' 

"'Yet  I  would  have  refused ' 

"'  Say  not  so!'  I  cried,  alarmed,  'or  thou  wilt  dis 
please  the  Almighty  who  has  chosen  thee  to  reign  over 


198  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

his  people !  If  not  thyself,  some  other  one  would  have 
been  anointed  to  this  end ;  for  the  decree  is  written  in 
the  records  of  Heaven,  that  the  kingdom  shall  depart 
from  my  father  and  his  house  !  It  is  the  will  of  the  un 
changeable  God !  Let  us  both  meet  His  will  by  holy 
submission  !  Let  us  bear  our  sorrows  patiently  !  for  I 
know  thy  grief  is  sincere  and  deeper  than  mine,  in  that 
thou  shouldst  thus  seem  to  show  thyself  an  enemy  to 
thy  friend !' 

"'  Then  thou  forgivest  me  !'  he  asked  with  a  look  of 
happiness. 

" '  With  all  my  heart !'  I  answered,  opening  my  arms. 
4 1  will  reign  in  thy  heart,  and  thou  on  my  throne,  and 
we  shall  both  be  king  !" 

"  He  bounded  into  them,  and  I  folded  him  to  my 
bosom,  kissed  his  beautiful  brow,  and  sealed  at  that  mo 
ment  our  friendship  beyond  any  event  of  time  to  mar  or 
break  !" 

"  Worthy  of  each  other,  noble  brothers  in  love  and 
friendship  !"  I  exclaimed,  deeply  touched,  your  majesty, 
by  this  exhibition  of  attachment  so  divested  of  all  self, 
so  superior  to  human  nature  !  The  prince  after  a  brief 
silence  now  said, 

"I  think  I  have  brought  up  sufficiently  prominent 
and  clear  the  past,  in  reference  to  these  subjects,  my 
dear  Arbaces,  and  you  will  now  be  able  to  follow  me  in  my 
resumed  narrative  of  later  events  with  less  embarrassment, 
and  with  far  greater  intelligence  of  the  facts  I  shall  com 
municate.  I  was  about  describing  to  thee,  before  this  de 
viation,  to  make  the  past  plain  to  thee,  0  Arbaces,  not  yet 
wholly  familiar  with  our  national  history,  my  visit  to  David 
when,  two  years  after  this  consecration,  I  bore  to  him  my 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  199 

poor  father's  message  to  come  to  him  with  his  harp.  If 
not  too  late  in  the  night,  I  will  finish  my  narrative.  As 
I  said,  I  found  him  leading  his  flock  to  the  well,  at  which, 
Abraham,  Canaan  the  son  of  Ham,  and  even  Noah,  the 
father  of  our  race,  had  drank.  He  awaited  my  coming. 
We  embraced,  and  I  made  known  tc  him  my  unhappy 
father's  commands. 

"'I  will  obey  them  if  my  father  bids  me  go,'  he  re 
plied  ;  *  for  thou  knowest  it  becomes  me  to  do  all  I  can 
to  render  the  king  happy.  But,  my  brother  and  friend,' 
he  said  modestly,  '  I  am  but  a  mountaineer,  and  an  in 
different  player  !  The  sheep  love  to  hear  my  voice,  and 
listen  to  my  music,  but  I  am  not  skilled  to  play  my  harp 
before  kings  !' 

"  'Hast  thou  not  resting  upon  thee  the  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  ?'  I  replied.  <  Is  not  music  the  gift  of  God  to 
man  ?  Come  with  me  and  bring  thy  harp  !' 

"  I  prevailed  over  his  diffidence,  and  brought  him  to 
his  father  Jesse,  who  not  only  commanded  him  to  obey 
the  king,  but  sent  by  his  hand  bountiful  presents  to  Saul, 
of  bread,  wine,  and  venison.  When  I  returned  to  my 
father  with  David,  I  entered  his  chamber,  and  found  him 
seated  at  his  table  in  his  right  mind,  and  about  to  refresh 
himself  with  food.  I  did  not  hesitate,  therefore,  to  ap 
pear  before  him.  Upon  seeing  me  he  spoke  very  gently, 
and  called  me  'his  son,'  and  desired  me  to  sit  at  the 
board  with  him,  saying,  'Would  I  had  a  bit  of  good 
yenison  and  new  wine  to  set  before  thee,  my  son  !' 

"  At  this  moment,  so  singularly  favorable,  I  called  to 
David,  and  presented  him  to  the  king,  saying,  '  This  is 
the  son  of  Jesse,  for  whom  my  father  sent !  He  hag 


200  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

obeyed  the  king's  commands ;  and  brings  with  him  a  gift 
from  his  father,  the  Ephrathite.' 

•'  Hereupon  David,  who  was  not  free  from  embarrass 
ment,  bowed  himself  before  the  king  with  graceful  dig 
nity,  and  presented  the  presents,  saying,  <My  father 
prays  for  the  king's  health,  and  humbly  asks  him  to 
accept  these  little  gifts  by  the  hand  of  his  son  !' 

"  The  king  regarded  the  face  of  the  young  shepherd 
steadily  for  an  instant,  seemed  to  be  struck  with  its 
beauty  and  noble  expression,  and  said  with  a  look  of 
benignity  and  pleasure, 

" '  Welcome,  young  man  !  I  accept  thy  gifts,  and  com 
mand  thee  to  thank  thy  father  for  me !  What  is  thy 
name  ?' 

" i  David,  my  lord,'  he  answered. 

"'I  am  marvelously  pleased  with  thy  appearance. 
How  wouldst  thou  like  to  become  my  armor-bearer  ? 
Hast  thou  borne  arms  ?' 

" '  Once  against  a  party  of  the  Philistines  with  my 
father,  and  brothers,  and  neighbors,  three  years  ago !' 
he  quietly  replied.  '  But  my  vocation  is  that  of  a  shep 
herd,  0  king !' 

" '  Thou  art  famously  skilled  with  the  harp,  I  hear  ?' 
said  the  king. 

" i  I  but  amuse  my  hours  in  the  desert  with  a  poor  IIK 
strument,  your  majesty,'  he  answered. 

"  My  father  then  commanded  a  harp  to  be  brought, 
and  David  standing  by  it,  played  upon  it  before  him  with 
such  masterly  power,  and  accompanied  it  with  his  voice 
so  tenderly,  that  when  he  had  ended,  the  king  expressed 
his  pleasure  in  the  warmest  words ;  and  taking  a  bracelet 


THE   REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  201 

from  his  arm,  he  placed  it  upon  that  of  the  harpist, 
saying  in  a  most  kindly  tone, 

" '  Thou  shalt  stay  with  me  !  Thou  shalt  be  my  armor- 
bearer,  and  chief  singer,  and  stand  in  my  presence,  and 
ever  go  in  and  out  before  my  face. 

"  Thus  was  the  destined  heir  to  my  father's  throne 
brought  to  his  presence,  and  taken  into  his  service. 
The  following  day  the  dark  spirit  of  evil  settled  upon  the 
king's  soul.  David  seized  his  harp  and  commenced  play 
ing  a  battle-piece,  which  drew  quickly  the  warlike  mon 
arch's  attention.  He  then  changed  it  to  a  plaintive  air, 
and  followed  this  by  one  full  of  animation  and  sprightli- 
ness.  The  king  heard  and  was  refreshed  in  his  heart,  and 
the  dark  spirit  of  evil  left  him,  and  he  presently  wholly 
returned  to  himself  and  his  former  cheerfulness.  From 
that  time  David  was  necessary  to  his  health  and  happiness ; 
and  his  playing  on  the  harp  never  failed  to  dissipate  the 
clouds  of  melancholy  which  enveloped  his  soul.  At 
length  the  king,  my  father,  seemed  wholly  restored  to 
his  right  mind,  and  David  besought  him  for  permission 
to  return  to  his  father's  house,  and  to  the  care  of  his 
flocks ;  for,  as  he  said  to  me,  he  felt  ill  at  ease  in  the 
presence  of  the  man  whom  God  had  mysteriously  or 
dained  that  he  should  succeed  in  the  kingdom  ! 

"For  a  long  time  he  dwelt  at  Bethlehem,  returning  to 
his  former  simple  habits  of  life,  and  forgetting  the  cares 
and  splendor  of  the  court.  He  had  however  strengthened 
my  love  for  him,  and  also  carried  away  the  heart  of  my 
beautiful  sister  Michal,  to  whom  he  had  some  time  before 
presented  the  gazelle.  I  was  not  aware,"  continued 
Jonathan,  "  that  he  had  been  summoned  by  the  Seer  to 
the  Prophet's  School  at  Ramah  until  I  unexpectedly  met 


202  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;  OR, 

him  there  a  few  days  since,  in  your  presence.  But  the 
prophet  wisely  seeks  to  prepare  him  for  the  high  position 
for  which  God  has  destined  him." 

Here  the  Prince  Jonathan  ceased  his  long  and,  to  me, 
interesting  narrative.  The  midnight  moon  had  already 
gone  down  beyond  the  hills  west  of  Hebron,  and  Arctu- 
rus  shone  in  the  north  like  a  great  diamond  of  trembling 
light ;  the  sweet  influences  of  the  Pleiades  were  shed  upon 
the  earth  from  the  upper  skies ;  and  near  them  marched 
the  mystic  Aldebaran  in  his  triangular  field  of  stars ;  while 
the  sacred  serpent  wound  its  colossal  length  across  the 
arch  of  heaven.  It  was  a  still  and  thoughtful  hour.  We 
were  seated  in  the  door  of  my  tent,  and  for  some  minutes 
gazed  musingly  upon  the  stellated  splendor  of  the  illim 
itable  dome  above  us.  I  could  not  but  thank  Prince 
Jonathan  in  the  sincerest  manner  for  the  pleasure  he  had 
conferred  upon  me  by  his  conversation ;  and  I  assured 
him  I  should  henceforth  take  the  deepest  interest  in  the 
life  and  fortunes  of  the  youthful  David. 

"  I  regret,"  he  said,  "  that  the  cure  of  the  king's 
malady,  though  for  a  long  time  relieved  by  David's  art, 
was  not  permanent.  It  has  within  a  few  days  come  upon 
him  again,  since  this  new  war  has  been  declared  by  the 
Philistines  against  him.  You  had,  however,  an  exhibi 
tion,  when  you  were  presented  to  him,  of  the  painful  form 
his  melancholy  takes  when  the  evil  spirit  is  upon  him. 
You  saw  me  make  a  sign  to  the  choristers,  hoping  their 
music  would  soothe  him ;  but  they  being  unskillful,  the 
king,  whose  storm-tossed  soul  had  been  charmed  into 
perfect  peace  by  the  superb  performances  of  David, 
evinced  his  contempt  for  them  as  you  beheld.  If  he 
continues  in  this  gloom  of  soul,  I  shall  send  a  messengei 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      203 

for  my  friend  to  hasten  hither  from  Ramah  and  once 
more  try  the  power  of  his  skill." 

The  prince  now  rose  to  return  into  the  city;  and,  as  I 
could  not  prevail  upon  him  to  remain  until  morning,  he 
was  about  to  take  his  departure  accompanied  by  his 
armor-bearer,  when  three  tall  men  in  plain  iron  armor 
passed  in  sight  full  in  the  glare  that  shone  out  of  my 
tent,  and  were  about  to  be  challenged  by  my  sentry, 
when  the  prince  stopped,  and  said: 

"  What,  sons  of  Jesse  !  Do  I  find  you  here  all  armed 
for  the  wars  ?" 

"Yes,  my  lord,"  they  answered.  "We  are  Eliab, 
Abinadab,  and  Shammah,  and  are  come  up  from  our 
father's  house  in  Bethlehem  thus  far  on  our  way  to 
Hebron,  to  offer  our  services  to  the  king  against  the 
Philistines." 

"Come  then  with  me,"  said  the  prince,  "I  go  into  the 
city.  My  father,  the  king,  will  gladly  accept  the  ser 
vices  of  three  such  stout  men-at-arms  as  ye  are." 

"Yes,  we  are  not  armed  with  harps  and  dulcimers  and 
such  woman's  trumpery,  but  carry  stout  swords  and  battle- 
axes,  and  know  how  to  cleave  helm  and  cuirass  when 
need  serves." 

This  was  said  by  one  of  them  with  a  tone  and  allusion, 
your  majesty,  which  I  plainly  interpreted  as  a  sneer  aimed 
against  their  honored  younger  brother;  for  these  were 
the  three  elder  brothers  of  David,  still,  it  seemed,  burn 
ing  with  jealousy,  and  envy  against  him.  Yet  how 
little  did  they  suspect  that  the  anointing  they  had  wit 
nessed  was  to  give  him  authority  as  King  in  Saul's  seat! 
How  little  Saul  himself  had  suspected  that  the  hand 
which  struck  the  harp  so  boldly  and  sweetly  in  his  halls, 


ii04  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

was  the  one  which  was  destined  one  day  to  wield  hia 
sceptre ! 

The  three  men,  following  the  prince  across  the  plain, 
were  with  him  soon  lost  to  view  in  the  veil  of  night. 

Your  faithful 

ARBACES. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.     205 


LETTER    VII. 

ARBACES,  THE  AMBASSADOR 

To  BELTJS,  KING  OF  ASSYRIA. 

CAMP  OF  SAUL,  VALE  OF  ELAH. 
MY   ROYAL    COUSIN   AND    KING  I 

IT  is  with  no  little  satisfaction  that  I  commence  this 
letter,  knowing  that  you  will  so  soon  receive  it,  as  well 
as  those  which  I  have  hitherto  written,  and  that  I  shall 
not  be  compelled  to  retain  it,  as  I  feared  I  should  be, 
until  my  return  from  Egypt.  The  day  after  to-morrow 
a  courier,  who  came  to  the  Hebrew  court  from  the  king 
of  Damascus  to  propose  to  king  Saul  a  sale  of  arms 
from  his  far-famed  armories,  returns  into  Syria,  and  will 
be  the  bearer  of  my  packages  of  letters  to  its  capital. 
Thence,  after  three  weeks,  a  caravan  for  the  Euphrates 
will  take  its  departure,  and  this  Syrian  courier  promises 
to  place  my  parcel  in  the  hands  of  the  commander 
thereof.  From  Babylon  it  will  reach  you  by  the  regu 
lar  post  by  which  you  receive  letters  from  your  viceroy, 
Belesis. 

It  will  gratify  your  majesty  to  know  that  I  am  in  ex 
cellent  health,  and  that  my  caravan  is  encamped,  during 
our  detention,  in  the  salubrious  vale  of  Mamre,  where 
there  is  both  water  and  much  grass  for  the  horses. 

You  will  perceive  that  this  letter  does  not  bear  date 


THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

at  the  place  from  which  I  wrote  my  last.  In  order  to 
explain  to  your  majesty  where  I  now  am  and  wherefore 
I  am  here,  it  will  be  necessary  for  me  to  take  up  my 
pen  at  the  point  where  I  laid  it  down  at  the  close  of 
my  last  epistle. 

Your  majesty  therein  learned  that  King  Saul  was  ac 
tively  engaged  marshaling  all  his  armies  to  go  forth  and 
offer  battle  to  the  haughty  Philistine  chief,  who  had  sent 
to  him  an  insulting  message  to  come  forth  and  fight  with 
him  in  single  combat,  and  in  this  way  settle  the  war  be 
tween  them. 

Three  days  after  the  destructive  sand-storm,  which  I 
spake  of  in  my  last  letter,  the  Hebrew  army  poured  forth 
from  the  city  into  the  plain  of  Mamre,  and  took  up  their 
position  in  marching  columns.  Although  illy-armed,  and 
by  no  means  presenting  a  brilliant  and  warlike  appear 
ance,  they  were  a  formidable  host,  darkening  half  the 
valley  with  their  numbers. 

To  the  eyes  of  one  accustomed  to  behold  your  majesty's 
magnificent  armies  ready  for  battle  :  the  splendor  of  the 
arms ;  the  gorgeous  variety  of  shining  costumes ;  the  blazing 
of  ten  thousand  helmets ;  the  waving  of  a  sea  of  snow-white 
crests;  the  glitter  of  wide  fields  of  spears;  the  richly 
caparisoned  Euphratean  horse,  ranged  in  squadrons  a 
thousand  deep;  the  terrible  lines  of  elephants  with  their 
lofty  towers  bristling  with  armed  men ;  the  hosts  of  bar 
barian  archers,  javelin-men,  Tigrian  spear-men  and  bow 
men  ;  the  iron  phalanxes  of  Babylonian  battle-axe  men-at- 
arms;  the  superb  battalions  of  chariots  of  ivory  and  gold; 
the  vast  armament  of  engines  of  war  for  sieges,  with  the 
ten  thousand  gay  banners  of  every  color  flaming  above 
the  war-burdened  plain — to  eyes  familiar  with  scenes  like 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      207 

tlicse!  the  unpretending  display  of  the  Hebrew  army 
afforded  but  slight  interest. 

There  were  but  few  horse,  while  the  foot-soldiers  were 
of  all  arms  and  accoutred  with  but  little  regard  to  uni 
formity  of  costume.  Not  an  elephant  was  in  the  whole 
field.  The  king's  body-guard  of  two  thousand  men  and 
that  of  the  prince  were  an  exception  to  the  general  soni' 
bre  aspect  of  the  armed  hosts.  These  guards  were  mag 
nificently  helmed,  cuirassed,  and  mounted,  each  man, 
tall  and  comely,  and  wearing  a  helmet  of  burnished  brass, 
a  silver  corslet,  and  over  his  breast  a  gorgeous  sash  of 
fine  crimson  cloth,  fringed  with  gold,  which  as  he  gal 
loped  at  full  speed  flew  out  behind  him,  giving  to  the 
whole  corps  a  strikingly  picturesque  appearance. 

At  length,  when  all  were  marshaled  in  the  plain,  the 
king,  accompanied  by  the  prince  and  his  lords  and  chief 
captains  and  generals  of  his  staff,  rode  out  of  the  city 
gates  and  entered  the  field.  His  majesty  drew  near  my 
tent,  where  I  sat  in  my  saddle  at  the  head  of  five  hun 
dred  of  my  Assyrian  body-guard,  which  I  intended  to 
offer  to  the  king  !  He  reined  up  his  magnificent  charger 
near  me,  saluted  me  with  dignity  and  kingly  grace,  and 
said : — 

"  My  lord  of  Assyria,  I  regret  to  leave  a  guest  I  de 
sire  to  honor  for  his  own  and  his  royal  master's  sake ; 
but  thou  knowest  the  borders  of  my  kingdom  are  invaded 
by  a  large  army  that  must  be  met  and  conquered.  I 
hope  soon  to  drive  them  back  to  their  sea-shore,  and  also 
thereby  open  the  road  for  you  to  Egypt !" 

"  It  is  my  purpose,  with  your  royal  permission,  to  at 
tend  you,  0  king,"  I  said  ;  "  I  offer  you  my  services,  and 
those  of  ruy  body-guard  !" 


v^" 

"08  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR. 

The  eyes  of  King  Saul  slowly  traversed  the  warlike 
front  of  my  splendid  Assyrians,  with  the  light  of  sol 
dierly  admiration,  each  instant,  kindling  in  them  brighter 
and  brighter. 

He  was  a  noble  object  as  he  sat  there  in  his  war-sad 
dle  fully  armed !  He  wore  a  coat  of  scale-mail,  which 
fitted  his  noble  form  so  flexibly  and  elastic,  as  to  display 
not  only  the  shape  of  the  royal  wearer,  but  even  the  con 
tour  of  his  superb  limbs,  and  the  development  of  the 
muscles.  Greaves  of  polished  plates  of  steel,  bent  round 
to  the  shape  of  the  knee,  covered  his  legs,  which  were 
encased  in  mid-leg  boots  of  brass,  the  toes  bent  in  a 
graceful  curve  upward,  and  fastened  to  the  ancle  by  a 
massive  chain  of  gold,  which  also  held  his  brazen  spurs. 
At  his  thigh  hung  the  royal  scabbard  of  lion's  hide, 
covered  with  plates  of  silver,  and  studded  with  bronze 
bosses,  while  around  it  coiled  a  brazen  serpent,  in  many  a 
carved  fold.  The  heavy  sword,  four  feet  in  length,  was 
shut  within  the  sheath,  but  its  massy  ivory  handle  was 
adorned  with  two  lion's  heads,  where  the  hilt  was  united 
with  the  blade.  Chains  of  bronze  held  the  sword  and 
scabbard  to  a  broad  belt,  or  cincture  of  leopard's  skin, 
embossed  and  set  with  studs  of  gold  and  precious  stones. 
Over  his  majestic  shoulders  hung  open  on  the  breast, 
a  short  mantle  of  purple  silk,  worked  with  threads  of 
blue,  red,  and  gold,  in  rich  devices  of  scarlet  pomegran 
ates,  and  other  fruits,  entwined  with  vines.  The  border 
was  of  fur.  About  his  neck  was  clasped  a  collar,  or 
namented  with  brilliant  pearls.  His  royal  helmet  of 
polished  brass  imparted,  by  its  height  and  graceful  form, 
dignity  to  the  wearer,  being  encircled  by  a  band  of  gold, 
on  which  were  inscribed  sacred  words.  A  cloud  of  eagles' 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      209 

plumage  danced  from  the  superb  crest.  The  visor  was 
raised,  and  revealed  his  majestic  countenance,  which, 
though  pale  and  sad,  was  that  of  a  warrior-king  !  At 
his  saddle-bow  hung  a  ponderous  battle-axe,  and  by  a 
leather  thong  swung  a  heavy  mace,  with  a  carved  wolf's 
head.  His  mounted  armor-bearer  carried  his  large  em 
bossed  shield,  javelin,  and  spear,  with  his  royal  quiver 
of  arrows  at  his  back.  The  noble  animal  on  which  the 
stately  king  sat,  wore  housings  of  mail,  and  plumes,  while 
colored  tassels  with  silver  bells  adorned  his  crested  head, 
and  shook  with  constant  ringing  as  impatient  he  champed 
his  golden  bit,  and  curved  his  arching  neck  as  if  con 
scious  of  the  dignity  of  his  majestic  rider. 

"  Thou  hast  a  brilliant  body-guard,  Prince  Arbaces," 
said  the  monarch  with  looks  of  pleasure,  as  he  com 
pleted  his  inspection.  "  I  may  not  need  thy  aid  and 
that  of  these  thy  valiant  men  !  But  I  invite  thee  to  at 
tend  me  to  the  field.  My  son  holds  thee  as  a  friend, 
and  will  thank  me  therefor  !" 

The  prince  smiled,  and  warmly  thanked  his  royal 
father.  We  then  rode  on  across  the  plain  ;  and  the  king, 
soon  reaching  the  head  of  his  army,  gave  orders  to  the 
columns  to  march  forward.  Our  line  of  progress  brought 
us  near  an  angle  of  the  city,  where  a  large  number  of 
the  citizens  with  the  priests,  and  the  wives  and  daugh 
ters  of  the  officers,  stood  to  wave  farewell  to  the  depart 
ing  warriors.  By  my  side  rode  the  handsome  and  lordly- 
looking  Governor  of  Jericho,  Isrilid,  mounted  upon  a 
superbly  caparisoned  horse,  the  richly  embroidered  head 
piece  and  tassels  of  which,  he  proudly  told  me,  were  the 
skillful  work  of  his  fair  daughter.  As  we  passed  the 
place  where  these  spectators  of  our  march  stood,  I  be- 


210  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;  OR, 

held  tlie  beautiful  Adora  advance  towards  the  king  at 
tended  by  two  maidens.  She  carried  a  wreath,  while 
they  bore  baskets  of  flowers,  which  they  strewed  before 
the  path  of  the  monarch.  Gracefully  laying  her  hand 
upon  the  gilded  bridle  of  his  charger,  she  arrested  him 
for  an  instant,  and  placed  the  wreath  upon  the  arched 
helmet  of  the  horse's  head. 

"Nay,  fair  maid,"  said  the  king,  "crowns  are  be 
stowed  after  victory,  methought." 

"  Upon  the  brows  of  warriors  !  but  before  victory  upon 
the  head  of  the  noble  steed  who  is  to  carry  the  kingly 
soldier  into  battle,"  she  answered  smiling. 

The  king  bent  his  head  in  acquiescence,  but  without 
answering  her,  yet  evidently  not  displeased,  and  rode  on ; 
while  her  father  reining  up,  spoke  and  said,  "  Since  thou 
hast  come  hither,  daughter,  to  see  our  march,  and  do  the 
king  this  honor,  I  will  kiss  thee  good  bye  again !" 

"Wilt  thou  return  within  the  three  days,  sir?"  she 
asked  earnestly ;  regarding  her  father  with  affectionate 
solicitude. 

"  Yes,  my  daughter,  as  soon  as  I  have  well  seen  how 
the  Philistine  army  is  posted !"  he  answered. 

"  Go  into  no  danger  !"  she  said  affectionately.  "  I 
shall  charge  the  Prince  Arbaces,"  she  added  with  a 
bright  smile,  "  that  he  keep  you  under  his  wing,  my  dear 
father!" 

"  In  that  case  I  shall  have  to  be  in  the  fight,  child," 
he  said  pleasantly ;  "for  be  sure  the  Prince  of  Assur  will 
not  keep  his  sword  sheathed  while  there  is  a  battle  going 
on,  if  I  judge  him  aright." 

"  This  is  not  the  prince's  quarrel,  dear  father,"  an 
swered  the  captivating  maiden,  glancing  upon  me  with 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      211 

her  brilliant  eyes.  "  He  is  on  a  peaceful  mission  to 
bring  back  a  fair  bride  to  his  king,  and  he  dare  not  run 
any  risks  of  war  which  might  prevent  the  object  he  has 
in  view.  I  have  a  great  curiosity,  Prince  Arbaces,"  she 
added  in  a  playful  tone,  "  to  see  the  beautiful  Egyptian 
princess  on  your  return." 

"  One  need  not  go  so  far  as  Egypt  to  see  beautiful 
virgins,"  I  answered,  unintentionally,  in  so  marked  a 
manner  that  she  colored  with  enhanced  loveliness,  and 
looked  so  conscious  and  embarrassed  that  I  feared,  your 
majesty,  I  had  unwittingly  paid  her  too  pointed  a  com 
pliment  ;  and  flattery,  as  your  majesty  is  aware,  I  am 
by  no  means  given  to ;  on  the  contrary,  the  sight  of  a 
beautiful  female  has  always  made  me  timid  rather  than 
bold,  and  I  do  not  think  I  ever  had  the  courage  to  com* 
pliinent  one  before. 

By  this  time  the  van  of  the  army  drew  so  near,  that 
Adora  had  only  time  to  receive  her  father's  farewell,  and 
return  to  the  side  of  the  way  where  the  crowd  of  tearful 
females  and  citizens  stood,  when  the  leading  column  of 
the  army  came  up  ! 

"  A  sweet,  dear  daughter,  my  lord!"  said  the  proud 
father,  as  his  eyes  followed  the  superb  figure  of  his 
child  as  it  receded  from  him  among  the  groups  of  peo 
ple.  "  She  is  my  heart's  treasure  !  So  pure,  so  intel 
ligent,  so  gentle,  and  yet  so  high-spirited !  She  well 
inherits  the  noble  qualities  of  her  princely  ancestors !" 

"  What,  my  dear  governor,"  I  said,  "  are  there  princes 
in  Judea  besides  the  house  of  Saul?" 

"No!  I  allude  to  her  mother's  royal  line,"  he  an 
swered,  "Adora  is  not  a  Jewess  by  maternal  descent. 
Her  mother  was  a  princess  of  Tadinor  in  Syria  of  the 


212         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

Plains !  Her  grandfather  was  king  of  that  superb  City 
of  Palms  !  The  blood  of  an  heroic  race  of  kings  rung 
in  her  veins  !  She  is  but  two  removes  from  the  crown 
of  Tadmor.  Thou  knowest  of  that  realm,  0  prince  ! 
The  chief  city  is  ten  miles  in  circumference,  though  of 
late  years  it  has  lost  much  of  its  grandeur." 

"I  know  that  the  land  of  Tadmor,"  I  answered,  as 
we  rode  on  side  by  side  through  a  defile  which  the  head 
of  the  army  was  just  entering,  "  is  a  province  of  Assyria, 
and  that  its  king  is  tributary  to  Belus,  king  of  Nineveh  ; 
that  it  is  one  day's  caravan  journey  from  the  Euphrates, 
and  remarkable  for  the  splendor  of  its  temples,  the  mag 
nificence  of  its  palaces,  and  the  beauty  of  its  gardens, 
though  situated  upon  an  oasis  in  the  Orient- Syrian  de 
sert !  Hast  thou  been  there,  0  Isrilid?"  I  inquired: 
deeply  interested  in  this  unexpected  intelligence,  that 
the  splendid  Adora  Isrilid  is  a  daughter  of  the  race  of 
the  Euphratean  kings  who  built  Tadmor,  the  third  city 
in  the  world.  Your  majesty  will  conceive  that  I  expert 
enced  a  freshly  awakened  interest  in  her. 

"When  I  was  a  young  man,"  answered  Isrilid,  "I 
was  led  by  the  spirit  of  adventure,  being  rich,  to  visit 
distant  lands.  I  found  myself  in  Damascus,  and  hear 
ing  of  the  glories  of  the  East,  I  joined  myself  to  a  cara 
van  going  thence  across  Arabia-Deserta  to  Tadmor. 
There,  after  many  adventures,  I  was  made  secretary  to 
the  king,  having,  thanks  to  my  father's  care,  no  mean 
scholarship,  and  by-and-by  finding  me  faithful  I  was 
raised  from  step  to  step  until  I  became  his  viceroy ;  for 
his  majesty  had  become  attached  to  me  and  given  me  his 
confidence.  At  length  I  married  the  youngest  of  his 
two  daughters,  a  maiden  of  beauty  as  resplendent  as 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      213 

that  of  Adora  who  is  her  daughter !  The  king  at  length 
died,  and  his  son,  jealous  of  my  influence,  imprisoned  me. 
By  the  aid  of  my  devoted  wife  I  escaped.  Disguised, 
we  joined  a  caravan  going  to  Tyre,  and  after  many  years' 
absence  and  great  vicissitudes,  I  returned  again  to  my 
native  land.  Adora  was  then  a  lovely  child  seven  years 
old.  I  found  that  my  father  and  two  uncles  had  died,  leav 
ing  me  the  sole  heir  to  three  noble  estates,  for  they  were 
as  princes  in  wealth.  I  was  appointed  by  King  Saul, 
the  senate  of  Seventy  confirming,  governor  or  lord  of 
Jericho  and  its  province  twelve  years  ago.  Such  is  the 
brief  story  of  thy  friend  Isrilid !  and  thus  it  is,  0  prince, 
that  Adora  is  a  princess  in  her  own  right !" 

When  the  governor  had  ended  his  narrative,  I  expressed 
my  pleasure  at  hearing  it,  and  at  his  present  prosperity. 
I  rode  on  some  time  musingly,  when  the  Prince  Jona 
than  came  to  my  side  and  joined  our  company.  He  was 
in  cheerful  spirits,  not  only  at  the  prospect  of  soon  meet 
ing  the  enemy,  but  at  the  quiet  state  his  royal  father's 
mind  was  in.  I  had  not  beheld  the  princely  young  He 
brew  in  his  armor  before.  Instead  of  the  gorgeous 
housing,  burnished  plate-mail,  and  brilliant  decorations 
that  covered  the  royal  charger  which  carried  his  father 
with  such  stately  pace,  his  horse,  slender  and  graceful 
as  an  antelope,  was  unprotected  save  by  a  plain  breast 
plate  of  brass  and  a  brazen  head-piece.  Neither  crest 
nor  mail  was  placed  upon  him,  but  his  limbs  were  free  < 
to  move  as  with  light  and  dainty  step  he  bore  along  the 
youthful  prince  who  rode  with  a  grace  and  ease  of  horse 
manship  that  would  have  captivated  the  eye  of  a  wild 
Parthian  horseman.  He,  himself,  was  clad  in  a  dark- 
green  suit  of  armor,  plain,  without  boss  or  precious 


214  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

stone,  but  becoming  and  elegant,  which  set  to  his  grace 
ful  form  like  woven  silk,  although  it  was  knitted  of  links 
of  iron.  A  dark-green  scarf  crossed  his  chest,  and  by 
his  side  hung  his  straight  narrow  sword  without  a  scab 
bard,  fastened  to  his  black  girdle  by  a  silver  chain.  He 
wore  a  close,  pointed  helmet,  bronzed  and  visored,  but 
without  crest  or  plume.  At  his  saddle-bow  hung  a  quiver 
of  steel-headed  arrows  and  a  polished  cross-bow  of  cedar- 
wood.  He  had  neither  stirrups  nor  bridle,  but  guided 
his  beautiful  courser  by  the  tones  of  his  voice.  In  his 
hand  he  held  a  long  lance,  the  point  of  which  glittered 
like  fire  in  the  sun's  rays.  His  fine,  frank,  generous 
features  were  alight  with  pleasure  at  the  sight  of  the 
proud  hosts  around  him  moving  to  battle !  I  said  to 
him : — 

"  My  dear  prince,  your  armor  is,  pardon  me,  plainer 
than  becomes  your  rank.  Permit  me  to  present  to  your 
highness  for  this  war,  a  suit  of  Assyrian  armor  which  I 
have  in  my  pavilion.  I  can  send  for  it  by  my  armor- 
bearer,  Ninus  !  Indeed,  I  laid  it  all  out  for  the  purpose 
of  some  time  offering  it  to  you." 

The  prince  smiled  quietly,  and  said,  "I  thank  you 
kindly,  Arbaces,  but  I  cannot  wear  royal  armor.  It 
becomes  me  to  appear  harnessed  for  war  plainly,  as  you 
see  me.  Such  splendid  armaments  as  you  speak  of,  are 
fitter  for  the  true  prince  of  Israel,  my  friend  David,  than 
for  an  humble  citizen  like  me.  Should  my  father  fall  in 
battle  to-morrow,  I  should  be  no  longer  a  prince !  Nay, 
no  roof  in  the  land  of  Israel,  however  lowly,  could  call 
me  its  lord.  I  should  be  a  mere  wanderer ;  for  all  my 
father  has  are  his  crown  and  sword." 

I  painfully  felt  the  force  of  his  words.     We  rode  on 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      215 

in  silence  until  we  emerged  into  a  noble  plain,  when  Saul 
and  his  body-guard  marched  ahead,  and  the  mighty  army 
followed,  column  rolling  along  after  column,  across  the 
broad  green  valley.  The  head  of  the  leading  battalions 
was  penetrating  the  gorge  of  distant  hills  ere  the  rear 
squadrons  had  disengaged  themselves  from  the  defiles  on 
the  east  of  the  valley. 

That  night,  Saul  encamped  partly  in  a  vale,  partly  on 
the  hill  sides,  and  within  but  a  day's  march  of  the  plain 
on  which  we  knew  the  Philistine  army  to  be  reposing  in 
battle  order.  During  the  night,  our  camp  presented  a 
grand  spectacle  with  its  numerous  tent-lights  and  blazing 
fires  like  stars  for  multitude.  The  hum  of  the  people 
was  borne  over  the  vast  plain  like  the  roar  of  the  Tigris, 
when  swollen,  heard  afar  off.  Before  moving  there  were 
several  alarms,  and  two  or  three  conflicts  on  the  wings  of 
the  camp  with  roving  bodies  of  the  enemy  seeking  plun 
der  or  maneuvering  to  throw  the  new  troops  into  disorder 
At  early  dawn  the  bugles  sounded  the  advance,  and  once 
more  we  moved  forward ;  and  now  in  imposing  battle 
array,  our  flanks  protected  by  clouds  of  archers  and  by 
the  few  horse  which  appertained  to  the  army,  against 
the  wild,  barbaric  riders  of  the  desert,  some  thousands 
of  which  were  enlisted  and  fighting  against  Saul  in  alli 
ance  with  the  Philistines.  All  day,  as  we  moved  along 
the  road  towards  Joppa,  we  saw  small  bodies  of  these 
fierce  warriors  hovering  upon  the  ridges  and  embracing 
every  opportunity  of  cutting  off  any  lingering  parties  of 
our  army. 

Towards  evening  we  left  on  the  right  flank  the  rocky 
heights  of  Bethlehem,  and  crossing  a  wild  and  bold 
series  of  mountain  ridges,  pitched  our  camp  in  the  deep 


216  THE    THROVE    OF    DAVID  ;    OR, 

valleys  among  them.  We  had  now  approached  near  the 
main  army  of  the  enemy,  according  to  the  reports  of  our 
spies.  The  most  vigilant  watch  was  -kept  up  all  night 
throughout  the  camp.  The  army  slept,  sword  in  hand, 
ready  for  the  battle-cry  should  the  Philistines  attack 
our  position.  But  the  night-watches  all  passed  quietly. 

I  occupied  a  pavilion  near  the  king's ;  Jonathan  and 
Isrilid  sharing  my  hospitality.  As  the  morning  star 
was  fading  into  the  amber-tinted  sky  of  dawn,  the  early 
rising  king  stood  at  my  door  and  said  : 

"  Come  with  me,  Prince  Arbaces,  and  let  us  behold  the 
Philistine  encampment." 

We  ascended  an  eminence  west  of  our  camp,  and  as 
the  sun  rose  in  cloudless  splendor,  we  saw  before  us  a 
vast  plain  from  which  the  thin  white  haze  was  slowly 
dissipating  itself  into  the  clear  atmosphere.  A  range 
of  low  blue  mountains  lined  the  distant  horizon.  Along 
their  sides  was  visible  a  white,  league-long  line  of  tents 
of  war.  The  base  of  the  hills  betrayed  a  dark  shadow 
varied  by  lights  and  color,  and  in  front  of  it  gleamed  a 
stream  of  silvery,  broken,  waving  light,  like  a  narrow 
river  glittering  with  ten  thousand  shining  and  dazzling 
waves  in  motion. 

"Behold!"  said  the  king,  "the  camp  of  the  Philis 
tines  !  That  dark  shadow  varied  and  broken  on  the  hill 
side,  this  side  of  the  tents,  is  that  portion  of  the  hosts  of 
Goliath  who  have  been  in  arms  all  night,  and  now.  re 
lieved  and  unarmed,  are  reposing  upon  the  ground. 
That  long  shining  stream  of  moving  waves  of  light,  pro 
ceeds  from  their  front  of  battle,  composed  of  their  tens 
of  thousands  of  armed  men  !  the  bright  tremulous  motion 
is  the  reflection  of  the  sun  upon  the  myriads  of  spears. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.     217 

helms,  crests,  swords,  javelins,  from  shield,  corslet,  and 
head-piece !" 

"  It  is  a  sublime  spectacle,"  I  said.  "  Their  numbers 
seem  to  be  immense  !" 

"  It  is  not  by  numbers  Israel  is  to  be  conquered  or  to 
conquer,"  answered  the  king,  with  a  shade  of  the  former 
gloom  of  his  spirit  passing  across  his  face.  "  The  host 
conquers,  be  it  large  or  small,  on  the  side  of  which  the 
Lord  GocToTIIosts  and  of  Israel  fights  !  No  power  of  arms 
or  strength  in  numbers  of  men  can  avail  us,  if  He  hides 
his  face  from  us,  or  them,  if  He  turns  it  upon  them  in 
wrath  !" 

The  centre  of  the  vast  plain  was  unoccupied,  save  that 
here  and  there  a  war-horse,  which  had  escaped  from  its 
owner,  was  either  quietly  feeding  upon  the  rich  grass, 
or  dashing  up  and  down  in  wild  freedom.  A  single  lion 
was  seen  cantering  along  farther  north,  driven  from  his 
lair  in  the  cliff,  by  the  approach  of  our  troops ;  for  by 
this  time  the  army  of  the  Hebrews  was  in  full  march 
across  the  hills,  on  which  we  were  standing,  and  descend 
ing  into  the  valley  at  their  base. 

From  the  elevation  upon  which  we  were,  not  only  the 
dark  brown  walls  of  Bethlehem,  three  miles  to  the  west 
ward,  were  visible,  but  eight  miles  distant  northward,  the 
castellated  square  tower  of  the  Jebusite  fortress,  overlook 
ing  Solima  its  city,  was  discernible.  To  the  west,  the 
remote  walled  towns  of  Azekah  and  Socho  could  be 
dimly  seen,  between  which  stretched  the  line  of  the  Phil 
istines,  their  centre  resting  on  a  strong  fortress  upon  the 
side  of  the  mountain  in  their  rear. 

King  Saul  now  led  his  army  down  into  the  valley  of 
Elah,  and  leaving  one-third  of  the  men  to  pitch  the 


218  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID  ;    OR, 

camp  on  the  hill-side,  he  marshaled  the  residue  of  his 
fighting  men  in  order  of  battle  on  the  plain,  and  rode 
along  their  whole  line  reviewing  them,  and  giving  earnest 
orders  to  his  lords,  generals,  and  high  captains,  as  to  the 
disposition  of  their  several  commands. 

This  done,  he  directed  ten  thousand  of  his  men  to 
commence  fortifying  his  position,  by  digging  a  deep 
trench  in  front  of  it,  and  throwing  up  a  parapet  with  the 
earth  on  the  side  towards  his  camp.  This  was  done  in 
order  to  prevent  a  surprise  in  the  night,  and  in  case  of 
an  attack  to  stop  the  chariots  and  horsemen  of  the 
enemy.  As  this  fortification,  which,  with  so  many  men 
employed,  was  thrown  up  before  night,  joined  the  moun 
tain  on  one  side,  and  on  the  other  side,  it  completely  en 
closed  the  army  of  King  Saul. 

As  the  Philistine  hosts  were  so  much  greater  in  num 
bers  than  the  king's,  he  resolved  to  await  in  this  position 
the  arrival  of  his  whole  army ;  for  there  were  seventy 
thousand  men  of  Israel  yet  to  march  to  his  standard  from 
beyond  the  Jordan.  Therefore,  not  feeling  himself 
strong  enough  to  meet  the  enemy  with  his  present  force, 
he  resolved  to  defer  offering  the  Philistine  battle  until 
he  could  equal  him  in  numbers ;  for  the  unhappy  king 
had  no  confidence  that  the  help  of  his  offended  God 
would  supply  the  lack  of  numbers,  as  in  the  former  days 
of  his  regal  glory  ere  he  disobeyed  his  laws  ! 

Thus  encamped  and  entrenched,  King  Saul  impatiently 
awaited  his  expected  reinforcements.  The  second  day, 
Isrilid,  Governor  of  Jericho,  hastened  back  to  his  pro 
vince  to  forward  the  talents  of  gold  which  he  had  loaned 
to  the  king.  The  tedium  of  the  delay  was  sometimes 
varied  by  the  chase  of  the  leopard  or  the  lion,  which 


THE   REBELLION    OF    PRINCE   ABSALOM.  219 

were  from  time  to  time  started  from  their  lairs,  when 
they  fled  terrified  across  the  plain,  pursued  by  the 
younger  and  lighter  Hebrew  soldiers,  with  bow  and  jave 
lin. 

On  the  fourth  day  as  the  prince  and  I  were  slowly 
riding  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain  beyond  the  parapet, 
now  watching  for  the  appearance  of  wild  beasts,  now 
surveying  the  inactive  lino  of  the  Philistine  foe,  a  leo 
pard,  frightened  by  the  shouts  of  a  foraging  party  of 
Saul's  men,  bounded  from  a  defile  immediately  before  us. 
The  prince  has  a  great  passion  for  the  excitement  and 
perils  of  the  chase ;  and  he  at  once  pursued.  I  was  in  a 
moment  by  his  side.  The  beautiful  and  savage  beast  ran 
in  a  direct  line  across  the  plain.  We  were  soon  far  from 
our  own  camp,  and  approaching  that  of  the  Philistines, 
which  in  our  eagerness  of  pursuit  we  took  no  heed  of, 
when  we  heard  far  in  our  rear  a  faintly  sounding  trumpet 
calling  the  retreat.  It  was  from  the  king's  camp,  where 
our  rashness  in  advancing  so  far  into  the  plain,  had  been 
perceived.  We  turned,  and  for  the  first  time  realized 
our  great  distance  from  the  encampment.  Wo  were 
also  close  upon  the  leopard,  which  already  carried  an 
arrow  in  its  side  from  the  prince's  bow. 

"A  few  moments  more,  and  if  we  do  not  slay  the 
leopard,"  said  the  prince,  "we  will  obey  the  call  and 
ride  back  to  camp  !" 

As  he  spoke  he  launched  his  javelin,  with  such  pre 
cision  that  it  struck  the  animal  behind  the  shoulder  and 
hurled  him  over  upon  the  earth.  At  the  instant  of  its 
fall  I  heard  a  tramp  of  horses'  hoofs,  and  looking  up 
beheld  a  body  of  Philistine  cavalry  and  dromedaries 
sweeping  in  a  curve  across  the  plain  towards  us,  the 


220          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

riders,  with  lance  in  rest  and  flying  over  the  ground  with 
the  fleetness  of  the  wind.  The  prince  who  had  already 
alighted,  and  was  disengaging  his  javelin  from  the  body 
of  the  expiring  animal,  at  my  warning  looked  up  and 
beheld  his  danger.  He  leaped  into  his  saddle  and 
cried, 

"  Let  us  fly,  Arbaces  !  It  is  my  folly  that  has  brought 
you  into  this  imminent  peril !" 

"Do  not  concern  yourself,  my  prince,  about  me,"  I 
said.  "  I  have  enjoyed  the  chase  as  keenly  as  you  have 
done.  They  are  too  numerous  for  us  to  attempt  to  offer 
them  battle !  We  must  trust  to  the  speed  of  our  horses !' 

"  To  the  camp  then  for  our  lives,  Arbaces !"  he  cried. 
"  There  are  full  three  score  of  them,  and  Idumean  riders 
too,  whose  steeds  are  as  fleet  as  eagles !" 

There  was  not  a  moment  to  dally  in  hesitation.  We 
shouted  to  our  brave  chargers  and  gave  them  the  rein 
for  the  camp  !  Fortunately  we  were  both  admirably 
mounted.  It  became  now  a  reversed  chase  !  the  hunters 
of  the  brute  were  now  in  turn  hunted  by  men !  No 
sooner  had  we  wheeled  to  make  our  escape  than  the  pur 
suers  shouted  their  wild  and  terrific  battle-cry,  and 
clashing  their  swords  and  spears  against  their  shields 
came  thundering  on,  each  moment  the  advanced  horsemen 
gaining  upon  us  little  by  little.  We  now  saw  that  there 
was  commotion  in  our  camp.  Armed  men  leaped  upon 
their  horses  and  the  draw-bridge  over  the  moat  fell,  and 
a  score  of  mounted  Hebrews  dashed  across  followed  by 
the  king,  who  soon  took  the  lead  of  all !  This  was  a 
gallant  show  of  aid  for  us,  but  our  foes  had  but  one 
quarter  of  the  distance  to  traverse  that  our  friends  had 
to  reach  us.  Every  moment  I  expected  we  should  fall 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  21 

into  the  hands  of  our  pursuers,  four  of  whom,  Amalekites 
mounted  on  dromedaries,  were  now  within  bow  shot  of 
us,  and  their  long  slender  arrows  already  flew  past  us ! 

Suddenly  I  wheeled  upon  the  foe,  receiving  upon  my 
shield  a  lance  which  fell  at  my  feet  shivered  by  the 
'blow,  and  hewed  down  with  my  sword  the  barbarian  who 
was  about  to  transfix  me,  and  also  checked  the  advance 
of  his  fellow,  who  however  launched  his  glittering  javelin 
at  the  prince,  as  he  turned  to  combat  with  a  splendid, 
gaily-appareled  warrior  who  pressed  him  closely.  My 
brave  friend,  engaged  sword  in  hand  with  his  antagonist, 
was  heedless  of  the  flight  of  the  javelin  which  pierced 
the  flesh  of  his  right  arm.  I  was  by  his  side  in  a  moment 
to  cover  him  from  the  battle-axe  of  his  antagonist  who 
fell  cloven  through  the  helmet.  The  next  moment  we 
would  have  been  overpowered  and  slain  by  the  rapid  ap 
proach  of  others  of  the  foe,  but  for  the  presence  of  Saul 
himself!  Colossal  in  size  and  mounted  upon  his  gigantic 
white  charger,  his  eyes  blazing  with  war-fire  and  his 
visage  terrible  with  rage,  while  his  voice  roared  like  that 
of  the  lion  in  his  fury,  he  charged  alone  upon  our  foes, 
swept  them  aside  like  stubble  with  his  great  sword  wielded 
in  his  left  hand  and  his  bronze-headed  mace  held  in  his 
right ! 

The  rest  of  the  Philistines,  beholding  with  consterna 
tion  this  warlike  champion  thus  coming  upon  them  like 
the  powerful  and  wrathful  god  of  war,  checked  their  ad 
vance  and  suddenly  wheeling  about  galloped  away  to  a 
safe  distance,  leaving  seven  of  their  number,  horse  and 
rider,  in  the  dust  of  the  plain.  The  followers  of  the  king 
now  coming  up  continued  on  and  charged  them  with 
confidence  in  a  speedy  victory,  while  the  king  bending 


222  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID ;    OR, 

from  his  saddle  drew  the  javelin  from  his  son's  arm,  mildly 
reproving  him  for  his  rash  boldness. 

"Forgive  me,  my  lear  father,"  he  said.  "I  know  now 
I  was  wrong,  since  I  have  imperiled  your  life  as  well  as 
that  of  Prince  Arbaoes ;  but  in  the  heat  of  the  chase  I 
did  noA  know  we  were  so  near  the  Philistine  camp !" 

"It  is  well  it  is  no  worse,  my  brave  child,"  he  re 
plied.  "  Prince  Arbaces,  I  saw  the  aid  you  gave  my 
son.  It  was  opportune  and  skillfully  effected.  We  will 
now  ride  back  to  camp ;  for  the  Philistine  army  is  not  to 
be  conquered  by  a  stripling  like  thyself,  my  brave  boy!" 
This  was  spoken  to  Jonathan  who  appeared  not  to  heed 
the  anguish  of  his  wound. 

"  I  did  not  in  my  own  person,  my  dear  father  and  king, 
expect  to  fight  their  army,"  answered  Jonathan,  return 
ing  the  smile — so  rare  on  his  gloomy  sire's  face.  "But 
you  need  not  look  so  anxious,  sir !  My  wound  is  but 
trifling.  See!  our  men  are  chased  !" 

This  was  true.  The  overbold  Hebrew  horsemen  had  not 
counted  the  cost  of  their  charge,  and  were  received  by  the 
rallied  Philistines  so  warmly  that  after  a  brief  conflict  they 
turned  and  fled,  pursued  by  their  shouting  adversaries 
to  the  place  where  we  were.  Saul,  drawing  himself  up 
to  his  full  stature  and  swinging  his  formidable  sword, 
charged  and  stopped  the  pursuit !  The  foiled  riders 
contented  themselves  with  sending  a  flight  of  lances  at 
the  person  of  the  king  which,  caught  on  his  shield,  helmet, 
breast-plate,  and  head-piece  of  his  war-horse,  were 
shivered  like  crystals. 

We  at  length  regained  our  entrenchments,  and  the 
prince's  severe  wound  was  medicated  and  bound  up  by 
my  own  skillful  Indraic  physician. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      223 

The  noble  kin  or  had  well  calculated  the  result  that 

C1 

would  follow  his  entrenching  himself  where  he  was.  His 
object  in  doing  it  was  to  draw  the  Philistine  general  out 
of  his  strong  position  which  he  had  taken  up  along  the 
hill-side,  expecting  Saul  to  attack  him  there.  But  when 
the  strategic  barbarian  monarch  perceived  that  the  He 
brew  chief  had  taken  up  a  permanent  position  partly  on 
the  hill  and  partly  on  the  plain,  and  appeared  to  expect 
his  attack,  he  reluctantly  abandoned  his  original  plan 
of  tactics,  and  moved  with  his  whole  army  further  north 
ward  and  nearer  to  us,  so  that  only  a  narrow  valley  in 
stead  of  a  wide  plain  as  before  separated  us,  A  rocky 
eminence  also  protected  the  rear  of  the  Philistines'  main 
body.  This  change  of  position  was  made  the  morning 
after  the  prince  received  his  wound.  The  sight  of  the 
foe  marching  nearer,  and  pitching  their  camp  opposite 
to  us,  gave  King  Saul  the  highest  satisfaction.  He  felt 
that  the  next  move  would  be  to  assail  him  in  his  en 
trenchments,  when  he  intended  to  pour  from  the  hills 
and  defiles  the  chief  weight  of  his  army  upon  him.  To 
have  crossed  the  plain,  to  attack  a  foe  provided  with 
horses  and  chariots  armed  with  scythes,  would  be  to  ex 
pose  himself  to  be  surrounded  and  cut  to  pieces.  So 
King  Saul  quietly  and  prudently  waited  in  his  encamp 
ment,  until  the  Philistines  should  weary  of  the  delay  and 
march  out  to  give  him  battle. 

Mid-way  the  valley  flowed  a  sparkling  brook  at  which 
the  pitcher-bearers  of  both  armies  went  to  draw  water, 
who,  being  all  unarmed,  peacefully  talked  with  each  other 
from  bank  to  bank,  leaving  the  active  work  of  war  to  those 
who  wore  helm  and  sword.  This  pebbly  brook,  which 
a  deer  could  bound  across,  was  therefore  neutral  ground. 


224  TEE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

The  morning  after  the  armies  of  the  Philistines  had 
settled  themselves  in  their  new  position,  covering  the 
opposite  hill  and  half  the  valley  which  is  called  Pas-dam- 
mim  with  their  glittering  numbers,  Saul  shut  himself  up 
in  his  tent,  and  it  was  whispered  that  "the  dark  cloud  was 
upon  his  soul !"  This  news  was  brought  to  my  pavilion 
by  Heleph,  the  armor-bearer  of  the  Prince  Jonathan, 
who  lay  upon  a  couch  suffering  from  the  pain  of  his 
severe  wound. 

"Do  not  let  it  be  noised  in  the  camp,"  he  cried,  with 
earnestness,  "  or  the  whole  army  will  be  paralyzed. 
Who  of  the  people  knows  it?" 

"  The  Prince  Ishbosheth  told  me,"  answered  Heleph. 

"Go,  dear  Arbaces,"  implored  Jonathan,  "and  see 
if  it  be  so  !  My  father  will  admit  you  into  his  presence. 
If  possible,  have  it  kept  secret.  It  may  pass  off  in  a 
day  i  How  disastrous  !" 

I  immediately  sought  the  king's  tent.  His  high-stew 
ard  met  me  at  the  door. 

"Is  the  king  ill?"  I  asked. 

The  old  servitor  shook  his  head  sorrowfully. 

"The  evil  spirit  is  with  the  king,"  was  his  sad  and 
troubled  answer.  "  It  came  upon  him  in  the  night ! 
He  sprung  out  of  sleep  and  seizing  his  sword  seemed  to 
meet  an  invisible  enemy !  Then  he  cast  the  weapon 
away,  crying,  '  Shall  I  fight  against  a  foul  spirit  with  a 
Bword  of  iron?'  He  then  sunk  upon  the  side  of  his 
couch,  and  has  not  moved  since,  his  face  all  the  while 
buried  in  his  hands,  at  times  groaning,  not  as  in  pain, 
but  as  a  man  mourns  for  the  dead !" 

I  went  softly  in !  The  king  took  no  notice  of  me, 
I  ventured  to  lay  my  hand  upon  his,  gently.  He  moved 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      225 

not !  I  spoke  words  of  kindness  and  sympathy  !  He 
remained  silent.  I  appealed  to  his  warlike  name,  to  his 
kingly  pride,  and  to  his  army  waiting  their  leader  !  He 
moved  not,  but  great  sighs  betrayed  the  profoundness  of 
his  emotion.  At  length  he  removed  his  hands  and  looked 
up  into  my  face !  Gods  of  clemency  and  pity,  your 
majesty!  I  never  beheld  such  a  countenance!  It  will 
haunt  me  to  my  dying  hour  !  It  was  a  dead  man's  face, 
but  stamped  with  a  living,  unutterable  woe  !  The  hol 
low,  black  eyes  seemed  profound  wells  of  tears,  deep, 
deep  beyond  the  plumb  of  human  sympathy  to  fathom. 
They  seemed  to  look  out  at  me  from  the  infinite  shades 
of  everlasting  torment !  The  awful  forehead  was  fur 
rowed  with  great  lines  of  grief,  as  if  the  ploughshare 
of  despair  had  passed  over  it !  His  haggard  cheeks 
were  valleys  of  grief,  and  the  expression  of  his  mouth 
was  that  of  one  from  the  prayers  of  which  mercy  has 
turned  her  ears  forevermore  !  It  was  the  countenance  of 
a  fallen  god  mourning  his  lost  throne,  conscious  it  can  be 
regained  no  more — no  more  !  in  whom  hope  is  dead  while 
impotent  remorse  remains ! 

I  could  not  speak  !  My  heart  was  full  of  tears  !  I 
slowly  and  silently  replaced  his  two  hands  over  his  face, 
as  if  it  were  a  deed  of  mercy  to  leave  him  to  his  woe 
which  no  man  should  dare  meddle  with ! 

It  was  in  vain  to  keep  the  secret  from  the  army !  Days 
and  nights  he  sat  under  the  cloud  of  the  dark  spirit 
which  had  so  mysteriously  usurped  the  throne  of  his 
soul.  From  the  royal  pavilion  the  shadow  passed  over 
the  whole  camp,  and  each  countenance  reflected  the 
gloom  of  the  king's.  The  army  was  dispirited !  Evil 
was  predicted  !  Men  deserted  by  night  in  companies, 
15 


226  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OK, 

feeling  that  their  God  would  be  against  them  in  battle ! 
Jonathan,  with  fever  burning  in  his  veins  and  unspeak 
able  sorrow  in  his  heart,  rode  through  the  army  and 
addressed  the  men,  urging  them  to  remain  loyal  and  not 
increase  their  evil  condition  by  yielding  to  superstitious 
fears.  He  encouraged  them  to  believe  that  the  king 
would  soon  recover,  and  that  God  would  fight  for 
them. 

His  personal  popularity  prevailed  in  a  degree.  It  was 
a  touching  spectacle  to  see  the  pale  young  prince,  who 
was  so  weak  that  he  had  to  be  lifted  to  his  saddle,  show 
such  a  courageous  and  noble  spirit  in  those  dark  hours. 
But  he  returned  to  my  tent  and  fainted  away. 

Early  the  third  morning,  after  the  evil  spirit,  for  such 
it  seemed,  had  again  possessed  the  king,  I  was  standing 
upon  a  clift'  watching  the  Philistines,  who,  during  the 
night,  had  changed  their  front  and  advanced  to  within 
half  a  mile  of  our  entrenchments  with  two-thirds  of  their 
army,  leaving  the  remainder  encamped  on  a  hill  which 
they  had  fortified  and  held  in  case  of  a  retreat.  This 
near  approach  looked  like  an  intention  on  the  part  of 
their  general  ere  long  to  attack  us. 

While  I  was  observing  their  long,  mailed  front,  their 
archers,  chariots,  cavalry,  men-at-arms,  spear-men,  and 
mounted  Idumean  troops,  and  a  battalion  of  hired  Amale- 
kites  eight  hundred  dromedaries  strong,  each  under  its  own 
chief  and  standard,  and  showy  with  varied  armor  and 
costumes;  I  was  attracted  by  a  body  of  about  seventy 
men  of  gigantic  size,  clad  in  coats  of  steel,  and  wearing 
brazen  helmets  and  greaves  of  brass,  marching  out  from 
the  line.  Their  leader  was  in  height  a  colossus !  Tall  and 
enormous  as  they  were,  he  towered  a  head  and  shoulder 
above  them.  He  could  have  stood  by  your  majesty's 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      227 

royal  elephant  and  laid  his  arm  across  her  back,  as  an 
ordinary  man  stands  by  a  horse  of  large  size  and  rests 
his  hand  upon  his  neck.  Ninus,  my  armor-bearer,  on 
beholding  him,  uttered  a  shout  of  terror  and  amazement. 
Prince  Ishbosheth,  a  fair  youth  and  younger  brother  of 
Jonathan,  came  near,  and  seeing  them,  said  to  me : 

"  Those  are  the  far-famed  sons  of  Anak  !  They  are 
of  the  race  of  giants  whom  Joshua  drove  out  from  the  land 
of  Anakim !" 

The  sight  was  soon  beheld  from  other  parts  of  the 
camp  and  created  great  excitement.  "  The  sons  of 
Anak !  The  terrible  Anakim !"  cried  many  of  the 
most  timid;  and  all  was  confusion. 

I  watched  them  with  deep  interest !  They  moved 
across  the  valley  in  solid  phalanx.  The  very  earth 
seemed  to  shake  with  their  combined  tread.  The  clang 
and  ring  of  their  coats  of  mail,  and  chains,  and  huge 
swords  as  they  stepped,  were  terrific.  Their  shields  were 
like  great  round  tables  of  bronze.  Their  weapons  of 
war  were  in  proportion  to  their  stature  and  enormous 
strength.  I  had  heard  rumors  before,  your  majesty,  of 
this  family  of  Anakim  which  have  a  city  of  their  own 
in  Palestina,  where  all  of  them,  male  and  female,  are 
giants  ;  but  now  I  beheld  their  chief  men — human  mon 
sters  six  cubits,  or  nine  feet,  high — who  formed  the  body 
guard  of  their  mighty  king. 

When  they  had  advanced,  three  cubits  *  at  a  stride,  near 
the  inter vei  ing  brook,  they  came  to  a  halt;  and  their 
chief,  leaving  them,  advanced  alone  to  within  a  bow-shot 
of  the  brook,  (from  the  banks  of  which  the  water-carriers 
of  both  armies  fled  away  in  terror  towards  their  camps,) 
and  standing,  he  lifted  up  his  voice  and  cried  unto  the 

*  A  Secular  Hebrew  Cubit  wuh  eighteen  inches  iu  length. 


228  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

armies  of  Israel.  In  height  with  helm  and  crest  he  was 
nearly  eleven  feet.  He  wore  a  brazen  helmet  upon  his 
head,  and  was  clad  in  a  coat  of  mail  woven  of  scales  of 
brass,  each  scale  the  size  of  a  man's  palm,  and  riveted 
one  to  the  other.  Upon  his  legs  were  greaves  of  brass, 
and  a  target  of  brass  between  his  shoulders.  A  cuirass 
of  steel  covered  his  ponderous  chest,  and  at  his  thigh  hung 
a  great  two-handed  sword,  a  weight  for  a  man  to  lift. 
The  staff  of  his  spear  was  like  a  weaver's  beam,  and  the 
spear's  head  would  have  weighed  six  hundred  shekels  of 
iron.  He  was  full  seventy  years  of  age,  and  his  black, 
massive  beard  and  thick  locks  were  mingled  with  gray. 
Before  him  marched  a  strong  man,  with  difficulty  bearing 
his  enormous  shield  bossed  with  spikes  of  iron  and  bound 
with  bands  of  brass.  His  voice  was  like  the  male  tiger's, 
when  pouring  forth  his  deep-toned  rage  against  his  foes. 

"  Why  are  ye  come  out  to  set  your  battle  in  array  ?  Am 
I  not  a  Philistine — a  freeman — and  ye  servants  of  Saul  1 
Choose  ye  a  man  of  war  on  your  side  and  let  him  come 
forth  to  meet  me !  If  he  be  able  to  fight  with  me  and 
to  kill  me,  then  will  we  be  your  servants  and  the  servants 
of  Saul;  but  if  I  prevail  against  him  and  kill  him,  then 
shall  ye  be  my  servants  and  serve  the  Philistines !" 

When  he  had  thus  proclaimed  his  challenge  in  a  voice 
that  was  heard  even  by  King  Saul  in  his  tent,  he  cast  from 
his  hand  his  huge  iron  gauntlet,  so  that  it  fell  far  across 
the  brook  upon  the  earth  in  sight  of  the  Israelites.  With 
the  act  he  cried  aloud,  "I  defy  the  armies  of  Israel  this  day ! 
Send  forth  thy  champion  that  he  may  fight  with  me!" 

This  bold  defiance  from  so  terrible  a  warrior,  whom  no 
Bingle  Israelite  could  hope  to  cope  with,  was  heard  by 
the  whole  army  with  dismay.  I  have  already  informed 
your  majesty,  of  the  gloom  which  the  condition  of  the 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      229 

king's  mind  had  cast  over  the  camp,  and  that,  as  one 
expressed  it  to  me,  "  The  whole  heart  had  gone  out  of 
the  men  !"  This  challenge  of  the  Philistine  caused  their 
spirits  wholly  to  fail  and  their  souls  to  sink  within  them. 
They  knew  that  their  enemies  had  heard  of  the  king's 
condition,  and  hence  took  this  way  of  defiance  and  show 
ing  contempt  for  Saul.  Who  in  their  army  could  have 
the  courage  to  meet  him  save  King  Saul,  whose  lion-like 
courage  never  had  quailed  before  man?  But  to  their 
earnest  and  anxious  questions  of  their  captains  and  chief 
lords  as  to  what  was  to  be  done,  the  answer  was  given, 
"  The  king  sits  in  his  tent,  and  the  evil  spirit  of  God  rests 
upon  his  soul !" 

"  Has  he  heard  the  proud  defiance  of  the  champion  of 
his  foes  ?"  I  asked  of  his  chief  steward. 

"Yes,  my  lord,"  he  answered;  "but  he  moves  not 
from  his  seat.  His  brave  general  Abner,  who  has  just 
arrived  in  camp  from  the  country  beyond  Mount  Ephraim 
with  reinforcements  from  the  land  of  Asher,  of  Manasseh, 
and  of  Naphtali,  has  repeated  to  him  the  challenge  word  for 
word,  and  said,  "  0  king,  if  thou  wilt  permit  thy  servant 
Abner,  he  will  go  forth  and  meet  this  dog  of  a  Philistine ! 
If  I  perish,  my  blood  will  in  part  wipe  off  this  dishonor 
from  our  army !" 

"Nay,  Abner,"  answered  the  king  without  looking  up 
from  the  ground ;  "  nay,  thou  art  come  hither  not  to  be 
slain  but  to  stand  in  my  place  before  my  people  !  Thou 
wilt  command  them  !  If  thou  art  slain,  they  will  take  to 
flight  and  each  man  seek  his  own  home,  and  the  Philis 
tine  will  possess  the  land  !  Let  him  defy  us  !  Words  do 
no  harm  !  We  are  strong  within  our  entrenchments  and 
they  fear  to  assail  us  !  Go  and  leave  me,  and  put  courage 


230          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

into  the  hearts  of  the  people.  Peradventure  God  for 
their  sakes  will  yet  give  us  victory !" 

I  saw,  for  the  first  time,  this  warrior  Abner,  your 
majesty,  as,  when  he  came  out  of  the  king's  pavilion,  he 
entered  my  tent  to  visit  the  wounded  prince.  He  is  a 
man  of  noble  bearing,  with  a  bold,  martial  front  and  a 
proud,  imperious  air,  with  all  the  characteristics  of  the 
Hebrew  race  in  the  blackness  of  his  eyes,  the  eagle  shape 
of  his  nose,  and  full,  resolute  lips,  He  was  in  a  rich 
suit  of  armor,  and  wore  a  helmet  inlaid  with  gold,  and  a 
mail-shirt  of  golden  chains  with  greaves  of  brass  and  a 
corslet  of  bronze.  I  greatly  liked  his  appearance,  and 
felt  that  the  king  had  a  strong  arm  to  lean  upon  in  his 
presence  in  the  camp.  More  than  once  ere  his  arrival  I 
had  heard  Saul  sigh  and  say,  "  Would  Abner,  my  general, 
were  come!  Would  God  Abner  were  come!" 

The  Philistine,  after  giving  his  defiance,  retired  and 
with  his  huge  body-guard  strode  back  to  his  camp.  The 
same  evening,  just  as  the  priest,  who  attends  the  king  in 
his  wars,  was  offering  up  the  evening  incense  with  the 
prayers  of  the  army  to  their  Lord,  the  giant  again  made 
his  appearance  in  the  plain  and  repeated  his  defiance  as 
before,  his  hoarse,  barbarian  voice  almost  drowning  that  of 
the  priest  reciting  the  holy  service.  The  next  morning 
and  evening  the  challenge  was  repeated  in  the  same  terms 
of  boasting  and  scorn.  My  own  blood  boiled  at  the  re 
peated  insult,  and  I  felt  tempted  to  go  forth  with  my  hundred 
Assyrian  nobles  and  attack  him  and  also  his  men-at-arms ! 
But  this,  doubtless,  would  have  been  an  act  of  rashness.  No 
mere  charge  of  horse  would  avail,  especially  as  the  brook 
lay  between.  It  seemed  necessary  to  assail  the  monster 
only  with  stones  from  a  catapult  or  other  siege-artillery. 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  231 

In  single  comba^  no_  one  could  meet  him  and  live!  This 
was  so  evident  that  even  the  brave  Abner  said,  "  that 
he  would  permit  no  man,  if  one  could  be  found  in  the 
army  to  offer,  to  go  out  to  him  !  He  would  be  slain  and 
we  should  be  mocked  the  louder.  To  attack  him  with  a 
strong  body  of  horse  would  not  only  be  a  confession  of 
our  own  weakness  which  compels  a  resort  to  numbers  to 
subdue  one  enemy,  but  contrary  to  the  rules  of  war, 
wherein  the  person  of  a  champion  who  presents  himself 
is  sacred  from  surprise  or  treachery,  and,  if  met  at  all, 
must  be  met  by  but  one  of  the  other  side  !  Therefore 
he  must  defy  us  until  he  is  weary  !  It  is  a  bitter  thing," 
added  Abner,  "  to  have  to  hear  him  bellowing  out  there 
morning  and  evening ;  but  we  must  abide  patiently  the 
end,  and  in  the  meanwhile  strengthen  our  position,  in 
case  of  an  attack." 

The  brave  prince,  as  he  lay  on  his  couch,  writhed  when 
the  voice  of  the  giant  day  after  day  came  roaring  across 
the  vale,  like  that  of  a  wild  Bashan  bull  when  he  paws 
the  earth  and  lashes  himself  for  combat  with  a  rival. 

After  forty  days  had  elapsed,  during  which  the  giant 
ceased  not  morning  and  evening,  at  the  hours  of  sacrifice, 
to  present  himself  before  the  camp  of  Saul,  he  appeared 
with  new  rage  and  fresh  terms  of  defiance  and  hatred. 
Up  to  this  time  the  king  had  remained  in  his  tent,  and 
the  dark  cloud  hung  upon  him  with  but  little  change  in 
the  intensity  of  its  gloom.  He  ate  but  seldom,  scarcely 
slept,  and  spoke  to  no  man.  When  the  hour  for  the 
Philistine  to  shout  out  his  challenge  came,  the  king 
would  be  seen  to  lift  his  head  and  pause  in  his  walk  up 
and  down  his  tent,  or  if  lying  down  to  raise  his  head  as 


232  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

if  to  listen  for  it ;  and  when  it  came  he  would  bury  his 
face  in  his  mantle,  and  mutter : 

"  I  am  accursed — accursed  of  God  !  This  son  of  Anak 
is  sent  to  curse  me  by  his  gods,  and  I  am  impotent ! 
When  will  this  burden  of  my  life  end  !  Rather  would 
I  perish  by  the  sword  of  this  Goliah  of  Gath  than  live ! 
But  shall  the  king  of  Israel  give  himself  up  to  die  like 
a  dog  that  this  giant  may  howl  over  his  dead  corpse  and 
mock  my  people !  No,  I  must  live  on — live  on — and 
bear  as  I  may  this  Atlas  of  woe  God  has  placed  upon 
my  head !" 

On  the  fortieth  morning  the  giant  came  out,  and  cried  : 

"  0  Saul  of  Kish !  Thou  craven  Benjaminite  !  son 
of  a  left-handed  race !  Hast  thou  not  a  man  to  take 
up  my  gauntlet  which  rusteth  there,  lying  on  the  earth 
these  forty  days  !  Where  art  thou,  circumcised  Hebrew  ? 
Show  thyself!  If  thy  evil  spirit  lovest  music  I  will  play 
thee  a  sweet  melody  with  my  sword  against  thy  buckler  ! 
Choose  you  a  man  of  war  and  let  him  come  down  to  me  ! 
Dost  thou  not  know  me  ?  I  am  Goliah,  the  lord  of  Gath  ! 
I  slew  Hophni  and  Phineas,  sons  of  your  High  Priest. 
I  am  he  who  carried  off  the  Ark  of  the  Lord,  and  set  it 
up  in  the  temple  of  my  gods  !  Come  and  slay  the  man 
that  did  it,  and  avenge  thy  God  and  his  sacred  taberna 
cle  which  I  defiled !" 

This  taunt,  your  majesty,  filled  to  the  brim  with  the 
last  drop,  the  cup  of  his  insults  he  had  from  day  to  day 
made  the  ears  of  the  Hebrews  drink !  Saul  sprung  to 
his  feet,  seized  his  sword,  crying,  as  he  marched  forth 
from  his  tent : — 

"  Is  there  not  a  man  here  whom  God  is  with  who  will 
rid  me  of  this  Philistine?" 


THE   REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  233 

Jonathan,  who  was  still  lingering,  (for  his  excitement 
on  account  of  his  father  and  the  Philistine  retarded  hig 
convalescence,)  rose  and  hastened  to  meet  his  father, 
who  was  wholly  vrithout  mail,  helm  or  shield,  armed  only 
with  his  naked  sword  in  his  left  hand.  The  king  no 
sooner  saw  him  than  he  dropped  his  sword,  fell  upon  the 
prince's  neck,  and  said,  hoarsely  and  pitifully : — 

%;  Lead  me  back  to  my  tent !  I  am  accursed  !  It  is 
not  by  my  hand  that  the  Lord  is  to  avenge  himself  and 
his  honor  !  No  !  all  my  deeds  are  an  abomination  to  Him ! 
Jonathan,  lead  me  back  !  I  am  not  mad,  but  I  am  all 
dead  within!  My  lost  soul  is  imprisoned  within  my 
body  by  the  Lord,  instead  of  departing  to  join  com 
panionship  with  the  dark  souls  of  my  fathers  !" 

At  length  the  prince,  with  traces  of  weeping  in  his 
eyes,  came  into  the  pavilion  faint  and  depressed,  and 
told  me  what  had  passed. 

"  My  poor  father  !  He  is  not  violent,  but  his  present 
mood  is  heart-rending.  I  fear  the  Lord  God  has  left  us, 
and  will  destroy  this  army  by  the  hand  of  the  Philistine. 
If  He  send  not  help  soon,  not  a  Hebrew  beard  will  wag 
on  these  hills  by  noon  to-morrow.  The  army  is  spirit 
less,  dismayed,  and  rebellious !  Already  the  generals 
of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali  and  of  Dan  have  told  Abner 
they  will  leave  the  camp  and  return  to  their  own  borders, 
for  God  is  surely  against  Israel !  Oh,  my  dear  Prince 
Arbaces,  what  can  be  done?" 

"I  know  not,  my  prince,"  I  answered,  greatly  dis 
tressed  at  so  strange  a  condition  of  things  in  so  vast  an 
army ;  for  there  were  not  less  than  one  hundred  and 
forty  thousand  men  encamped  under  the  banners  of  the 
different  tribes  on  the  hill  and  plain.  "  Perhaps  safety 


234  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID  ;    OK, 

lies  only  in  a  bold  attack  on  the  carnp  of  the  Philistines 
with  the  whole  army." 

"  I  have  thought  so  !  The  brave  Abner,  who  is  at  his 
wit's  end  between  his  allegiance  to  the  king  and  his  duty 
to  the  people,  spoke  of  it !  He  called  a  council  of  all 
the  captains,  lords,  chiefs,  and  generals  of  the  tribes, 
and  proposed  a  battle  !  But  superstition  has  fallen  upon 
them.  They  refuse  to  fight  unless  the  king  leads.  But 
alas !  he  is  not  himself,  and  seems  to  be  dead  while  he 
lives,  as  he  strongly  and  truly  expressed  it !" 

"  Why  not  send  for  David  to  try  again  the  power  of 
his  harp  ?"  I  asked. 

"  I  have  thought  of  it  often.  But  he  is  in  the  School 
of  the  Prophets  and  under  Samuel.  If  my  father  knew 
that  he  came  from  the  Seer  he  would  not  suffer  him  to 
enter  his  presence*,  for  he  will  take  no  favor  from  the 
Prophet,"  answered  the  prince  sorrowfully. 

"  It  is  two  years  or  more  since  the  king  sent  him  back 
to  his  father  Jesse,"  I  said.  "  He  was  then  a  beardless 
lad  you  told  me.  When  we  saw  him  at  Raman  two 
months  ago,  he  had  a  bearded  lip  and  chin,  and  you  re 
marked,  in  my  presence,  to  him  how  tall  he  had  grown 
since  you  first  knew  him  at  Bethlehem,  and  from  a  youth 
had  got  the  air  and  beard  of  manhood.  If  he  is  so  much 
changed,  though  indeed  he  looks  still  fair  and  comely  of 
countenance,  the  king  may  not  recognize  him.  Let  him 
be  sent  for  as  a  strange  harpist." 

"  It  is  possible  the  king  might  not  know  him,  as  he 
observes  and  notices  but  little  of  what  passes  around 
him;"  answered  the  prince,  thoughtfully. 

While  he  was  speaking,  Ninus  came  in  and  exclaimed, 
"  The  king  is  in  his  right  mind  and  has  on  his  armorT 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      235 

and  calls  for  his  horse,  and  has  given  Abner  command 
to  put  the  whole  army  in  array,  and  offer  battle  to  the 
Philistines  this  day  !" 

The  news  proved  true !  Saul  had  suddenly  awaked 
from  his  deep  gloom  like  a  man  shaking  off  the  night 
mare,  and  in  his  natural  tone  of  voice  and  usual  manner 
was  infusing  a  new  spirit  into  all  who  approached  him.  It 
was  a  joyous  sight  to  the  army  to  see  its  chief  once  more 
in  battle-harness,  with  the  light  of  war  illumining  his  face, 
and  his  cheerful  voice  heard  as  of  old  giving  his  soldierly 
commands.  The  Philistines,  thus  seeing  the  army  of 
Israel  forming  in  battle-array,  also  marshaled  their 
hosts,  and  soon  army  was  set  against  army.  In  this 
attitude  they  remained  all  day,  but  Saul  resolved  not  to 
attack  until  night  came  on.  But  as  evening  drew  near, 
the  gigantic  Philistine's  appearance  nearer  the  camp  than 
ever,  produced  a  panic  along  his  line,  and  half  his  army 
precipitately  fled  up  the  mountain.  The  next  morning, 
Saul  set  them  again  in  battle-array,  and  the  Philistines 
stood  opposite  to  them  ready  for  battle.  But  before 
Saul  was  ready  to  give  the  command  to  advance,  the  for 
midable  Philistine  again  appeared  and  challenged  the 
king.  Then  Saul,  seeing  his  soldiers  troubled,  caused  a 
proclamation  to  be  made  that  "  the  man  of  Israel  who 
would  slay  the  heathen  champion  should  be  made  the 
richest  man  in  his  kingdom  ;  should  receive  the  Princess 
Michal,  his  beautiful  daughter,  to  wife ;  and  his  father's 
house  should  be  made  all  princes  in  the  land." 

This  offer  of  reward  for  victory  over  his  foe,  shows 
strikingly,  your  majesty,  how  wholly  the  king's  piety 
towards  his  God  had  left  him ;  for,  by  the  custom  and 
law  of  war  among  his  people,  it  was  the  duty  of  a  king, 


236  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

or  general  about  to  give  battle,  to  consult  the  Prophet  of 
God  in  the  land,  or  else  the  High  Priest,  and  also  to  have 
sacrifice  offered  to  his  Lord  in  heaven,  in  order  to  gain  the 
divine  favor  and  blessing  upon  his  arms.  Here  the  king 
ignored  the  aid  of  heaven,  and  looked  only  to  human 
prowess.  This  extraordinary  impiety  was  doubtless  a 
part  of  his  retributive  madness. 

But  while  the  monarch  sought  in  vain  along  the  waver 
ing  line  of  his  trembling  hosts  for  a  man  to  slay  the 
Philistine,  there  was,  unknown  to  him,  approaching  the 
camp,  one  who  was  ready  to  accept  the  defiance  of  the 
Philistine,  lift  his  iron  gauntlet,  and  do  battle  with  him 
in  the  name  of  his  God  ! 

But,  your  majesty,  I  will  defer  until  my  next  letter, 
which  I  shall  shortly  write,  my  narration  of  the  events 
that  subsequently  transpired. 

Your  faithful 

ARBACES. 


THE  KEBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      237 


LETTER    VIII. 

ARBACES  TO  THE  KINQ. 

GAMP  OF  SAUL. 

YOUR  MAJESTY: 

IN  my  last  I  prepared  you  to  hear  that  a  champion 
was  found,  who  was  about  to  meet  the  Philistine  lord, 
and  avenge  the  insulted  honor  of  his  God  and  country. 
It  will  not  be  in  your  power,  0  king,  to  form  the  re 
motest  idea  of  the  person,  although  his  name  is  not  un 
familiar  to  you,  having  been  often  mentioned  in  my  let 
ters  ;  nay,  he  is  one  of  the  chief  persons  who  have  figured 
therein. 

You  will  remember  that  we  left  the  youthful  David  at 
the  School  of  the  Prophets  in  Ramah.  But  when  he 
heard  that  his  three  older  brothers  had  gone  to  the  wars, 
and  that  a  fourth  was  ill,  having  been  severely  torn  by 
a  wolf,  he  requested  of  the  Seer  permission  to  go  and  see 
how  it  fared  with  the  old  man  his  father,  and  if  his  ser 
vices  were  needed  by  him.  The  prophet,  pleased  with 
this  filial  feeling,  granted  his  request,  and  dismissed  him 
with  his  blessing. 

The  young  shepherd  had  been  but  a  few  days  at  home, 
where  he  found  his  aid  needed  about  many  things,  espe 
cially  in  his  familiar  duty  of  tending  his  father's  flocks, 
which  by  neglect  had  been  reduced  to  a  very  few,  when 


233  THE   TiiRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

one  morning  the  venerable  Eplirathite  called  his  son  to 
him  and  said  : — 

"  I  desire  to  hear  from  thy  brethren  in  the  camp  of 
Saul !  Lade  thee  a  small  sheaf  wagon  with  provisions 
for  them,  and  gifts  for  Joab  the  brave  young  captain  of 
their  thousand,  and  take  with  thee  my  Canaanite  servant 
to  drive  it,  and  go  to  the  king's  camp  in  the  valley  of 
Elah,  and  see  how  thy  brothers  fare  ;  and  take  receipt  for 
what  thou  givest  them ;  but  take  no  such  pledge  from 
Joab  !  Keep  thyself  from  harm,  my  son ;  and  shouldst 
thou  find  the  battle  waging,  take  no  part  in  it !  for  thou  art 
consecrated  to  God,  and  thy  life  is  not  in  thine  own  hand." 

Before  day  the  following  morning  the  young  man  left 
for  the  camp  of  Israel.  The  distance  was  but  twelve 
miles  westwardly  over  hills,  through  defiles,  and  across 
plains.  At  length,  as  the  sun  rose,  he  caught  the  glit 
ter  of  the  arms  and  armor  of  the  Hebrews  encamped  on 
the  hills  above  Elah.  He  hastened  on  pleased  with  this 
warlike  sight !  Ere  long  he  emerged  from  a  glen  and 
came  full  in  view  of  the  two  armies.  It  was  a  grand 
spectacle  to  his  brave  heart,  and  he  stopped  to  gaze  on 
the  martial  scene.  Lo !  as  he  looked,  he  saw  both 
armies  move  towards  each  other,  heard  the  clangor  of 
shields,  the  clash  of  spears  and  swords  against  bucklers, 
the  bray  of  trumpets,  and  the  preliminary  shouts  of  bat 
tle.  But  after  a  show  of  attack  both  armies  retired  to 
their  former  positions,  but  still  in  array  of  battle. 

The  young  shepherd  continued  to  approach  the  camp 
of  the  Hebrews,  and  as  he  came  near  the  outer  trench 
in  search  of  the  entrance,  he  was  directed  by  the  sentry 
to  the  part  of  the  camp  where  his  brethren  stood  in  the 
"thousand"  of  Joab.  He  found  their  phalanx,  and 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      'JS9 

came  and  saluted  his  brethren  and  made  known  to  them 
upon  what  errand  he  had  come.  They  frowned  at  first  on 
him,  but  gladly  accepted  what  he  told  them  he  had  brought 
in  his  carriage,  and  speedily  sent  out  to  have  the  provi 
sions  taken  in  !  While  they  were  talking  with  him  about 
home  and  their  father,  he  was  surprised  to  hear  a  voice 
like  a  man's,  yet  loud  as  a  lion's  roar,  while  at  the  same 
time  the  Israelitish  soldiers  around  him  manifested  a 
disposition  to  fly ;  but  their  fierce  young  captain,  Joab, 
writh  his  spear  in  his  hand,  swore  by  the  Ark  of  the  Lord 
that  he  would  slay  the  man  that  fled ;  nevertheless,  from 
other  battalions  great  numbers  retreated  sore  afraid. 
David  looked  round  when  he  heard  this  strange  and 
terrific  voice,  and  beheld  the  Philistine  champion,  Go 
liath  of  Gath,  come  forth  upon  the  plain  out  of  his  army 
and  stand  as  heretofore  and  defy  the  armies  of  the  living 
God,  and  calling  upon  Saul  to  send  him  a  man  to  fight 
him  !  When  the  young  shepherd  had  listened  to  these 
words,  he  asked  of  those  about  him : — 

"Who  is  this  son  of  Anak?  Doeth  he  thus  defy  the 
king  and  all  his  hosts?" 

"  lie  hath  done  this  for  forty  days  !  For  forty  days 
he  has  defied  Israel,  the  king,  and  the  Lord  of  hosts. 
No  man  can  stand  before  him!"  they  replied  to  him. 

"And  the  king  hath  made  proclamation,"  said  a  man 
of  Judah,  "  that  the  man  who  killeth  him  shall  be  en 
riched  with  great  riches,  marry  the  king's  daughter 
Michal,  and  that  all  his  family  shall  be  free  nobles  and 
princes  in  the  land  !" 

"  Sayeth  the  king  so?"  exclaimed  David.  "What 
said  he?  That  the  man  who  slew  him  should  have  his 
fair  daughter  in  marriage?" 


240         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

"  So  shall  it  be  done  by  the  king  to  the  man  that  kill- 
eth  him,"  they  answered,  interested  in  seeing  the  comely 
shepherd  manifesting  such  a  deep  interest  in  what  they 
told  him. 

Joab  now  approached  and  thanked  David  for  the  pre 
sent  he  had  brought  him,  and  said : — 

"  If  thou  goest  back  to  Jesse,  thy  father,  tell  him  not, 
young  man,  that  thou  sawest  the  army  of  Israel  put  in 
fear  by  one  man,  though  a  giant !  It  is  not  that,  but 
there  is  a  cloud  from  God  upon  all  our  hearts,  and  we 
dare  do  nothing !  A  strange  fear  hath  fallen  upon  us 
all  from  the  Lord !  My  courage  oozes  from  my  finger- 
ends  at  the  voice  of  this  Goliath  !  We  are  bound  by  a 
spell !  We  know  heaven  is  against  our  king  !  So  we 
are  but  an  army  of  women,  while  this  giant  of  Gath  in 
sults  us  !  The  dark  shadow  of  God's  hand  is  upon  us  !" 

"  How  fares  the  king's  mind?"  asked  David.  "Hath 
he  lost  heart?" 

"  He  has  been  for  forty  days  under  a  cloud.  Yester 
day  and  this  morning  he  was  like  himself!  But  he  no 
sooner  gets  the  army  in  array  for  battle  than  he  gives 
the  order,  not  to  i  advance,'  but  to  '  retire  !'  We  know  not 
what  to  do  !  The  prophet  aids  us  no  more !  The  High 
Priest  is  not  consulted  !  No  sacrifice  burns  on  the  altar  !" 

"  And  he  who  slays  the  Philistine  shall  be  rewarded 
with  the  hand  of  the  king's  daughter?"  interrogatively 
repeated  the  graceful  shepherd  to  the  men  about  him,  as 
the  champion  filled  the  air  with  his  voice,  calling  to  the 
combat. 

"  What  is  that  to  thee,  stripling,  what  the  king  will 
reward  with?"  cried  angrily  his  eldest  brother,  Eliab, 
his  eyes  kindling  with  scorn.  "  Comest  thou  hither  to 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  241 

do  him  battle,  boy  ?  With  whom  hast  thou  left  those 
few  sheep  in  the  wilderness  ?  I  know  the  pride  of  thy 
vain  heart.  Thou  didst  come  only  to  see  the  battle,  for 
thou  hast  ever  the  conceit  in  thee  to  play  the  soldier ! 
Go  back  and  fight  the  wolves  and  chase  the  conies  of  the 
rocks  !  What  is  it  to  thee,  proud  boy,  what  the  king 
offers?" 

"  Dost  not  thou  tremble,"  spoke  his  brother  Abina- 
dab,  with  light  laughter,  "  to  hear  the  voice  of  this 
Anakim  ?  Go,  lad !  Thou  art  fitter  to  look  after  sheep 
than  fight  a  giant ;  yet,  by  the  king's  head,  brothers, 
the  boy's  words  smack  of  a  wish  to  try  his  hand  to  win 
the  king's  daughter  !" 

Here  Eliab  and  his  two  brothers  laughed  loudly,  and 
openly  scorned  their  younger  brother,  so  that  he  turned 
from  them,  and  said  to  Joab, 

"  If  there  be  none  to  step  before  me  to  meet  this 
blasphemer  of  God  and  defier  of  Israel,  I  will  go  !" 

"  Thou  ?"  exclaimed  the  captain  of  the  thousand  re 
garding  him ;  while  all  around  made  themselves  merry 
at  David's  bold  words ;  seeing  he  was  but  a  mere  youth 
without  armor,  dressed  in  his  blue  shepherd's  tunic  and 
carrying  only  his  cross-hafted  crook  in  his  hand.  u  I 
fear  Goliath  would  hardly  notice  thee,  my  brave  youth ! 
If  thy  height  were  as  tall  as  thy  heart,  thou  hast  courage 
enough !" 

In  the  meantime  some  one  went  and  told  the  king  that 
a  young  shepherd  in  the  camp  spoke  boldly,  and  ex 
pressed  no  fear  of  the  Philistine,  and  seemed  ready  to 
fight  with  him. 

"  Haste  and  bring  him  before  me,"  cried  Saul. 

The  king  walking  up  and  down  before  his  pavilion 


242  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

was  gloomily  deliberating  in  his  mind  what  to  do  in  his 
present  great  trials,  when  the  son  of  Jesse  was  conducted 
by  Joab  before  him. 

"Is  this  youth  he?"  he  demanded  with  a  glance  of 
derision.  "  Why  dost  thou  mock  me  to  lead  this  stripling 
hither?" 

"  Let  no  man's  heart  fail  him,  0  king,  this  day  be 
cause  of  the  champion  of  the  Philistines,"  said  David, 
who  at  once  perceived  that  the  king  did  not  recollect 
him  as  the  beardless  youth  of  two  years  before  who  had 
soothed  him  with  the  harp.  "  Thy  servant  will  go  and 
fight  this  defier  of  the  armies  of  Israel  and  of  the 
king!" 

"  Thy  words  are  brave,  young  man  ;  but  thou  art  not 
able  to  go  against  this  Philistine  to  fight  with  him,"  said 
the  king,  regarding  him  with  a  kind  expression  and 
speaking  with  gentle  condescension  in  his  tones  as  if 
there  were  a  mysterious  influence  over  him  exerted  by 
the  voice  and  presence  of  the  sweet  harper  who  had 
aforetime  laid  the  evil  spirit  in  his  soul.  "  Thou  art  but 
a  youth,  and  this  Goliath  of  Gath  a  man  of  war  from  his 
youth !  I  love  thee,  child,  for  thy  courage ;  but  thou 
wouldst  no  sooner  come  near  him,  ere  he  would  toss  thee 
in  the  air  as  a  wild  bull  would  toss  an  antelope  that 
crossed  its  path." 

Then  David  answered  firmly,  but  yet  with  modesty : 

"  Thy  servant  kept  his  father's  sheep,  and  there  came 
a  lion  and  a  bear,  and  the  bear  took  a  lamb  out  of  the 
flock,  and  I  pursued  and  smote  him  and  delivered  the 
lamb  out  of  his  mouth ;  and  when  the  lion  rose  against 
me,  I  caught  him  by  the  beard  and  smote  him  and  slew 
him.  Thy  servant  slew  both  the  lion  and  the  bear;  and, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      243 

0  king,  this  uncircumcised  Philistine  shall  be  as  one 
of  them,  seeing  he  hath  defied  the  armies  of  the  living 
God!" 

The  king  and  his  captains  and  all  present  looked  with 
surprise  and  a  sort  of  awe  upon  the  fearless  and  noble 
countenance  of  the  youth  on  which  the  loftiest  courage 
eat  enthroned. 

"  Young  man,  thou  hast  a  lion's  heart — but  thou 
canst  not  slay  the  Philistine,"  said  Saul. 

David  answered,  "The  Lord  who  delivered  me  out  of 
the  paw  of  the  lion  and  out  of  the  hand  of  the  bear  will 
deliver  me  out  of  the  hand  of  this  Philistine.  Let  the 
king  command  me  to  go !" 

u  (ro,  and  the  Lord  be  with  thee,  for  he  hath  departed 
from  me  and  all  my  people !"  said  Saul  with  a  sigh.  The 
king  then  led  the  young  shepherd  into  his  pavilion  and 
said  to  his  armor-bearer, 

"  Put  on  him  my  royal  armor  !" 

Joab,  who  loved  him  for  his  courage,  hastened  and 
brought  the  king's  helmet  of  brass  and  would  have 
placed  it,  all  too  large,  upon  his  head ;  and  clasped  about 
him  the  king's  coat  of  scale-mail ;  and  girded  his  own 
Bword  upon  his  thigh:  but  they  proved  so  much  too  large 
for  him  that  they  got  a  suit  of  Prince  Jonathan's  armor 
which  was  hanging  in  the  armory  of  the  pavilion,  and 
put  it  on  him  with  the  helmet  also ;  and  David  girded 
the  sword  upon  his  thigh  ;  but  unaccustomed  to  be  mailed 
in  full  armor,  which  he  now  only  suffered  to  be  put  upon 
him  by  the  order  of  the  king,  who  stood  by,  and  even 
clasped  his  helmet  for  him,  he  could  not  move  at  ease, 
and  turning  to  King  Saul,  he  said  respectfully : 

"  May  it  please  my  lord  the  king   to  let  me  put  off 


244  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

these  as  I  have  not  been  used  to  them.  I  will  meet 
Goliath  with  my  own  weapons." 

The  king  consented  to  his  request,  and  he  took  off  all 
his  armor  and  laid  aside  the  sword,  and  said,  quietly, 
"  With  my  lord  the  king's  permission  I  will  now  go 
forth!" 

By  this  time  it  was  noised  about  that  a  mere  youth,  a 
shepherd's  lad,  had  presented  himself  before  Saul  and 
offered  to  do  battle  with  the  giant.  The  news  did  not 
reach  my  pavilion  until  after  he  had  left  the  king's  tent 
and  begun  to  descend  the  hill,  when  looking  from  the  door, 
and  noticing  a  great  movement  of  the  people  in  camp,  I 
followed  the  direction  of  their  gaze,  and  perceived  the 
young  shepherd,  staff  in  hand,  crossing  the  outworks. 
The  prince,  who  had  been  sleeping  to  invigorate  himself, 
for  he  was  not  yet  well,  rose  up  and  came  to  the  tent 
door  to  look  at  the  youthful  champion  on  whom  all  eyes 
were  fixed.  After  a  second  glance  he  caught  my  arm 
and  cried, 

"  It  is  David  !  It  is  my  dear,  dear  friend !  What 
madness  has  possessed  him  ?  Let  me  fly  to  detain  him !" 
he  exclaimed,  overwhelmed  with  grief  and  amazement, 
as  he  saw  the  young  Hebrew  boldly  advance  into  the 
plain  at  a  rapid  step,  as  if  impatient  to  meet  his  foe. 
"Fly!"  he  called  to  his  armor-bearer  and  others;  "go 
and  by  force  turn  him  back  !" 

" /will  obey  you,"  I  answered,  seeing  no  one  moved, 
while  all  eagerly  watched  the  youthful  hero. 

"  Nay,  hold,  Arbaces  !"  he  cried,  hesitatingly  ;  "I 
have  not  forgotten  that  he  is  consecrated  and  his  person 
is  sacred !  The  Philistine  dare  not  harm  the  anointed  of 
God !  But  see !  What  does  he  ?" 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      245 

As  he  spoke,  we  saw  the  young  champion  stoop  and 
lift  the  iron  gauntlet  from  the  ground,  and  throw  it 
down  derisively  and  walk  over  it.  The  Philistine  who 
had  ceased  his  bellowing,  and  now  stood  watching  the 
approach  of  the  unarmed  stripling  with  curiosity,  no 
sooner  saw  this  act  than  he  advanced  with  a  great  cry 
of  rage. 

David  was  by  this  time  at  the  brook.  "VVe  saw  him 
bend  down  and  carefully  select  from  the  stones  in  its 
bed  several  pebbles,  which  he  placed  in  his  shepherd's 
bag  at  his  girdle.  He  then  crossed  the  brook,  and  taking 
from  the  bag  a  shepherd's  sling,  he  went  forward  swiftly. 
The  Anakim  was  all  the  while  slowly  and  heavily  advanc 
ing,  his  armor-bearer  going  before  him. 

"Wherefore  comest  thou,  boy  ?"  called  Goliath  in  his 
loudest  tones  deepened  by  rage.  "  Doth  Saul  mock  me 
by  sending  some  message  by  thee  to  me !  Go  and 
tell  Saul  the  lord  of  Gath  holds  speech  only  with  mailed 
warriors  !" 

"  I  come  to  meet  thee,  not  for  Saul,  but  for  my  own 
pleasure,  thou  vain  boaster  and  defier  of  Israel !"  an 
swered  David. 

"  By  the  gods  of  Ashtaroth,  am  I  a  clog  that  thou 
comest  against  me  with  a  shepherd's  staff?"  called  the 
Philistine.  "  May  the  curses  of  Dagon  and  Baal  light 
on  thee  !  I  call  for  a  man  to  fight  with,  and  Saul  sendcth 
me  one  more  fit  to  dance  with  women  !  Cursed  be  thou 
by  my  gods !" 

David,  fearless  and  cool,  continued  to  approach  him, 
when  the  giant,  as  if  scorning  any  fear  of  him,  sat  down 
upon  a  rock  in  the  plain  and  said : 

"  Come  to  me,  and  I  will  give  thy  flesh  unto  the  fowls 


246  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID  ;    OR, 

of  the  air  and  unto  the  beasts  of  the  field  !  In  my  hand 
thou  wilt  be  as  a  lamb  in  the  grasp  of  the  lion  !" 

Then  answered  David  in  a  clear  voice,  "  Thou  comest 
to  me  with  a  sword,  and  with  a  spear,  and  with  a  shield ; 
out  I  come  to  thee  in  the  name  of  the  LORD  or  HOSTS, 
the  GOD  of  the  armies  of  ISRAEL  whom  thou  hast  de 
fied  !  This  day  will  the  Lord  deliver  thee  into  my  hand  ; 
and  I  will  smite  thee  and  take  thine  head  from  thee ;  and 
I  will  give  the  carcases  of  the  hosts  of  the  Philistines, 
this  day,  unto  the  fowls  of  the  air  and  to  the  wild  beasts 
of  the  earth,  that  all  the  earth  may  know  there  is  a  God 
of  the  armies  of  Israel.  And  all  these  Philistines  and 
Israelites  shall  know  that  the  Lord  saveth  not  with  the 
sword  and  spear ;  for  the  battle  is  the  Lord's,  and  He  will 
give  you  into  our  hands  !" 

These  words  so  greatly  enraged  the  Philistine  that  he 
arose  and  strode  forward  to  meet  David.  Then  we  all 
trembled  for  the  safety  of  the  young  shepherd ;  and  when 
a  thousand  voices  said,  some,  "He  will  be  slain,"  others, 
"  He  will  fly,"  he  hastened  forward  still  faster  towards 
Goliath,  and  when  within  half  bow-shot  he  stopped,  put 
his  hand  into  his  bag,  and  took  thence  one  of  the  stones 
of  the  brook  and  fitting  it  to  his  sling,  slung  it !  The 
stone,  as  if  heaven-directed,  smote  the  giant  in  the  fore 
head  and  sunk  deep  into  the  skull.  With  a  terrible 
death-cry,  heard  in  both  armies,  he  fell  over  with  his 
face  towards  David  flat  upon  the  earth.  At  his  fall 
the  very  skies  were  rent  with  a  shout  from  the  whole 
Hebrew  army. 

As  there  was  no  sword  in  David's  possession,  he  ran 
swiftly  and  stood  upon  the  prostrate  Philistine,  and  took 
hold  of  the  huge  hilt  and  dre^  his  sword  out  of  the  sheath 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      247 

thereof,  and  seeing  he  was  only  stunned  by  the  stone,  he 
drove'  it  through  a  Joint  of  his  coat  of  mail  into  his  body, 
killing  him.  He  then  cut  off  his  head  and  held  it  up  in 
the  sight  of  both  armies.  The  armor-bearer,  dropping 
the  monstrous  shield,  was  the  first  to  flee  away,  and  then 
the  body-guard  of  giants  stationed  further  back  in  the 
plain,  seeing  their  king  and  champion  dead,  turned  and 
fled  towards  the  army,  which,  taking  fright  and  struck 
with  consternation  at  the  sudden  fall  of  their  king,  broke 
their  line  of  battle  and  took  to  flight. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  convey  to  your  majesty  the 
scene  that  now  followed.  The  whole  army  of  Hebrews 
with  the  wildest  shouts  of  joy  and  with  fierce  warlike 
cries  arose,  and  pouring  like  an  inundating  river  from 
their  entrenchments  pursued  their  foes  across  the  plain, 
armed  with  vengeance.  Saul  remained  on  the  hill  in 
his  tent  giving  the  command  of  the  pursuing  army  to  his 
generals.  It  was  a  wild  and '  terrific  spectacle.  The 
whole  army,  to  a  man,  was  engaged  in  the  pursuit,  so 
that  but  for  the  king's  body-guard,  which  never  left  him, 
and  my  Assyrians,  the  camp  would  have  been  emptied. 

In  an  hour  both  armies,  the  pursuing  and  the  pursued, 
were  lost  to  view  far  beyond  the  hills  upon  which  the 
Philistine  army  had  encamped ;  only  the  dead  strewn 
over  the  plain,  here  singly,  there  in  heaps,  showed  where 
the  flood  of  battle  had  rolled  along  its  sanguine  tide. 

When  David  was  advancing  into  the  plain  to  meet  the 
Philistine,  Saul  was  heard  to  inquire  of  his  general,  Ab- 
ner,  who  the  lad  was,  and  whose  son  he  was,  so  bold  and 
that  seemed  to  have  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  upon  him? 
Abner  answered  him  : — 

"  As  thy  soul  liveth,  0  king,  I  cannot  tell." 


248  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

"  Enquire  tliou  whose  son  the  stripling  is,"  commanded 
the  king. 

After  the  death  of  the  Philistine,  Abner  found  the 
hero  in  my  pavilion  whither  Jonathan,  (forgetting  his 
wound,)  and  I  with  Joab  and  others  had  brought  him, 
having  hastened  to  meet  him  as  he  was  returning  from 
the  plain  with  the  head  of  Goliath  in  one  hand  and  his 
sword  in  the  other.  The  prince  embraced  him  on  meet 
ing,  weeping  with  joy,  and  again  and  again  drew  him  to 
his  heart !  Eliab  and  Abinadab,  his  now  proud  bro 
thers,  came  with  us  and  took  up  the  head  to  carry  after 
David,  and  Shammah  bore  the  giant's  sword  !  After  the 
great  wave  of  battle  had  swept  over  the  plain  parting  at 
the  giant's  headless  body,  I  despatched  some  of  my  men- 
at-arms  with  Jonathan's  to  strip  the  dead  champion  of 
his  armor  and  bear  it  to  the  tent.  It  took  four  men  to 
carry  his  coat-of-mail,  three  his  spear  with  its  staff,  and 
two  his  helmet,  while  his'  target  of  brass  and  shield  were 
a  heavy  load  for  three  men  !  Such,  your  majesty,  was 
the  monster  slain  by  this  fearless  youth  !  What  a  godlike 
hero  !  In  Assyria  he  would  be  ranked  with  the  warlike 
gods  !  Yet  how  modest  after  his  victory !  He  blushed 
when  I  praised  him. 

The  fall  of  the  Philistine  amazed  the  king. 

"Do  my  eyes  deceive  me?"  he  called  out.  "Is  the 
champion  down?" 

"  Down,  0  king,  and  the  youth's  feet  upon  his  neck  !" 
cried  a  hundred  voices.  "  See,  he  cuts  off  his  head !" 

The  king  looked,  and  then  overcome  by  the  reaction 
of  his  feelings,  he  would  have  fallen  to  the  ground,  if  he 
had  not  caught  by  the  shoulder  of  his  armor-bearer. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      249 

"  God  still  fights  for  us,"  he  murmured,  u  and  I  ain 
not  cast  off  forever !" 

Overcome  by  his  emotions,  he  desired  to  be  led  to  his 
tent.  When  he  came  to  himself  he  sent  for  Abner  his 
general,  and  bade  him  bring  the  young  conqueror  before 
him.  With  the  head  of  the  Philistine  in  his  hand,  Da 
vid  entered  his  pavilion. 

"  Whose  son  art  thou,  young  man  ?"  asked  Saul,  as  Da 
vid  placed  the  gory  head  of  Goliath  at  the  feet  of  the  king. 

"  I  am  the  son  of  thy  servant,  Jesse,  the  Bethlehemite," 
modestly  answered  the  young  conqueror. 

Then  Saul,  looking  closely  at  his  face,  recognized  his 
skillful  harpist,  and  extending  his  hand  to  him,  David 
reverently  bent  his  knee,  and  kissing  it,  said: 

"  Let  the  lord  my  king  long  live  and  prosper  in  his 
kingdom,  and  let  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and  power  rest 
upon  him  forever,  and  let  him  triumph  over  all  his  ene 
mies,  as  he  hath  over  the  Philistine  this  day." 

"What?"  cried  the  king,  "givest  thou  me  the  glory? 
To  thine  hand  alone  is  owed  the  glory  of  Israel  this  day. 
Rise  from  thy  knee  !  All  men  shall  do  thee  honor  !" 

Prince  Jonathan,  as  David  rose  to  his  feet,  rushed 
forward  and  folded  him  to  his  heart,  and  with  expres 
sions  of  the  warmest  affection  called  him  "  his  brother," 
saying : 

"  I  love  thee,  David,  I  love  thee  even  as  my  own  soul. 
Thou  hast  saved  my  father  !  From  this  hour  we  will  no 
more  be  separated!" 

"Nay,  did  he  desire  to  return  to  his  father's  house," 
said  the  pleased  king,  "  I  would  forbid  it.  From  this 
day,  young  man,  thou  shalt  be  to  me  as  a  son  and  dwell 
with  me !" 


250  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

"Promise  the  king  to  remain,  0  David!"  cried  the 
prince,  seeing  he  hesitated. 

"For  thy  sake,  my  beloved  prince,"  he  at  length  an 
swered,  "I  will  dwell  with  the  king." 

"  Then  from  this  moment  we  are  one !"  exclaimed 
Jonathan.  "  Between  us  my  father  will  make  no  dis 
tinction,  unless  to  love  and  honor  thee  more  !  As  a  seal 
of  our  covenant  take  thou  this  robe  which  I  put  upon 
thee." 

Here  Jonathan,  with  my  aid,  divested  himself  of  the 
flowing  broidered  robe  which  his  sister  Michal  had  sent 
him,  and  placed  it  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  beautiful 
youth ;  called  to  his  armor-bearer  to  fetch  his  Damascus 
sword,  his  silver  inlaid  bow  and  his  golden  girdle,  and 
his  undress  helmet  of  scarlet  silk  wrought  with  needle 
work  of  divers  colors,  (all  prized  gifts  to  him  from  friends 
at  court  or  fair  maidens,  companions  of  his  sister,)  all 
of  which  he  put  upon  his  friend.  The  transformation 
was  singularly  becoming  to  the  young  shepherd !  By 
nature  of  a  princely  air  and  noble  countenance,  with  a 
graceful  carriage  of  his  body,  he  now  looked  a  true 
prince !  Jonathan  gazed  upon  him  with  proud  delight 
and  admiration.  Saul  cried,  not  witting  how  truly  he 
spoke : — 

"  The  young  Bethlehemite  looks  as  if  he  were  born  to 
a  throne !  Young  man,  I  here  appoint  thee  head  over 
the  royal  guard  which  ever  stand  in  my  presence.  Thou 
ehalt  be  second  only  to  Abner  my  general  in  my  armies, 
and  Joab  shall  be  next  to  thee  and  serve  thee.  Thy 
father  shall  be  a  prince  in  Israel,  and  thy  brethren  lords 
in  the  land  !  and  thou  shalt  have  in  treasure  ten  talents 
of  silver  and  five  of  gold  for  thy  own  and  their  mainte- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      251 

aance,  even  as  I  said !  and  thou  shalt  dwell  with  me  in 
my  own  palace  and  stand  next  to  my  throne !" 

HEBROX,  AMBASSADOR'S  CAMP. 

I  had  written  thus  far,  your  majesty,  the  evening  of 
the  day  on  which  the  wonderful  Hebrew,  David  of  Beth 
lehem,  slew  the  champion  of  Palestina,  when  a  portion 
of  the  conquering  army  began  to  return  across  the  plain, 
sounding  their  victorious  trumpets  from  afar.  I  left  my 
tent  to  hear  the  intelligence.  These,  however,  were  the 
plunderers,  laden  with  spoil,  the  main  body  of  the  fight 
ing  men  having  continued  the  pursuit,  thinking  only  of 
the  slaughter  and  extermination  of  their  enemies.  It 
was  noon  next  day  before  the  warlike  battalions  began 
to  reappear.  All  the  latter  part  of  the  day  the  plain 
was  filled  with  their  exulting  companies,  each  man  laden 
with  some  trophy  of  victory.  At  their  approach  the 
lynxes,  wolves,  and  wild  dogs  of  the  desert,  with  the 
carrion  eagles  and  vultures  which  in  clouds  covered  the 
plain,  devouring  the  carcasses  of  the  dead,  scarcely  moved 
aside,  so  absorbed  were  they  by  their  voracity.  Upon 
the  carcass  of  the  Philistine  giant  I  had  seen  wild  beasts 
and  fierce,  flesh-eating  eagles,  feeding  all  day,  and  their 
savage  howling  over  it  as  they  fought  with  each  other 
reached  the  camp.  How  truly  herein  were  the  words 
of  the  youthful  Hebrew  champion  fulfilled ! 

On  the  third  day  the  whole  army  of  Saul  returned 
from  the  slaughter  of  their  foes,  having  pursued  them  to 
the  gates  of  their  sacred  city,  Ekron,  and  to  Gath,  and 
their  utmost  borders,  slaying  great  numbers  by  the  way, 
capturing  all  their  tents,  much  treasure,  and  horses,  and 
chp  riots,  and  prisoners,  and  great  spoil.  Saul  received 


252  THE   TKRONE    OF    DAVID;    OB, 

them  with  great  honor,  and  the  following  day  prepared 
to  return  to  Hebron  in  triumphal  march.  It  was  a  grand 
spectacle,  the  sight  of  the  warlike  hosts  winding  among 
the  dark,  wrild  mountains.  They  wrere  five  hours  passing 
the  height  on  which  I  stood  to  witness  their  passage. 
From  all  the  garrisons,  walled  towns,  citadels,  and  cities, 
there  came  forth  the  people  to  welcome  the  victorious 
king  and  his  army.  Maidens  with  sounding  timbrels 
and  graceful  dances  welcomed  the  conquerors,  and  pre 
ceded  them  with  songs  of  triumph. 

As  we  approached  the  gates  of  Hebron,  the  prince  and 
David  rode  near  Saul,  by  whose  side  I  also  had  the  honor 
of  riding.  The  king  looked  more  noble  and  majestic 
than  I  had  ever  seen  him.  His  countenance  had  wholly 
lost  its  sadness  and  wore  a  proud  expression,  while  his 
fine  eyes  were  lighted  up  with  pleasure.  He  enjoyed  the 
happiness  of  the  people,  and  gave  himself  up  to  the  ex 
citement  of  this  hour  of  glory  for  himself  and  for  his 
kingdom.  David,  with  that  becoming  indifference  to 
public  notice  which  characterizes  him,  rode  by  the  side 
of  his  friend,  pleasantly  conversing,  and  seemed  to  have 
forgotten  that  he  had  performed  any  unusual  feat  of 
valor.  At  times  he  would  turn  as  his  name  with  that  of 
the  king  caught  his  ear,  and  blush  and  smile  as  the  en 
thusiastic  multitude,  all  of  whom  had  heard  of  his 
pro\yess,  closely  crowded  the  way  to  catch  a  look  at  the 
youthful  hero  who  had  slain  the  champion.  As  we  came 
under  the  towers  of  Hebron,  two  bands  of  virgins  from 
the  city  issued  from  the  portal,  one  led  by  Michal  the 
fair  daughter  of  the  king,  and  the  other  by  Adora  the 
beautiful  "  Princess  of  Tadmor,"  if  I  may  so  term  her, 
your  majesty. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      '5 

As  they  drew  near,  they  played  on  tabrets,  harps,  and 
cymbals,  and  other  instruments  of  music  ;  and  sang  a 
song  of  welcome  to  the  conquerors.  Saul's  eyes  flashed 
with  pleasure  as  he  heard,  while  David  looked  at  the 
lovely  sight  with  unusual  interest.  Before  we  came  to 
them,  they  had  formed  on  each  side  of  the  way,  while 
other  maidens  strewed  with  fresh  flowers  the  path  along 
which  Saul  rode. 

"  Thou  seest  Miclial,  my  sister,  dear  David  !"  said  the 
prince  in  my  hearing.  u  She  knoweth  not  yet  that  she 
is  thine,  by  thy  valor  won  !  What,  does  the  color  mount 
BO  confusedly  to  thy  cheek  and  brow  !  Thou  hast  good 
claim  to  her,  and  I  wTill  be  the  first  to  join  your  hands 
when  we  reach  the  palace  !  Hark  !  They  chant !" 

We  had  now  come  up  so  near  to  the  double  line  of 
virgins,  that  we  could  distinguish  their  words.  Thus 
they  sang,  one  company  answering  the  other  alternately 

MICIIAL,    AND    HER    VIRGINS. 

Saul  hath  slain  his  thousands. 

Honor  to  the  king — Israel's  mighty  lord  I 

ADORA,  AND  HER  VIRGINS. 

Saul  hath  slain  his  thousands, 

And  David  his  tens  of  thousands  : 

Slain  the  lord  of  Gath, 

Slain  the  foe  of  God. 

Honor  be  to  David,  and  honor  to  the  king, 

Saul  hath  slain  his  thousands, 

David  his  tens  of  thousands. 

MICHAL. 

Hail  to  the  Lord's  anointed, 
Israel's  mighty  king  ! 


254  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Hail  to  Israel's  champion, 
David,  loved  of  God. 
Saul  hath  slain  his  thousands, 
David  slain  his  ten  thousands. 

ADORA. 

Saul  hath  slain  his  thousands, 
David  his  tens  of  thousands. 


Here  I  perceived  the  king's  brow  blacken  with  a  frown 
dark  as  night.  In  a  displeased  and  angry  voice,  and  in 
great  wrath,  he  turned  to  Abner  who  rode  close  at  hand, 
and  cried: 

"  They  have  ascribed  unto  David  ten  thousands,  and 
to  me  they  have  ascribed  but  thousands.  What  can  he 
have  more  but  the  kingdom  ?" 

From  that  moment  he  rode  in  silence,  paying  no  heed 
to  the  salutations  of  the  elders  of  the  city  and  others 
who  came  to  meet  him.  The  cloud  gathered  over  his 
soul ;  and  when  he  alighted  at  the  palace,  his  last  glance 
on  entering  rested  upon  the  youthful  David  with  looks 
of  hatred  and  implacable  jealousy.  The  arrow  had  en 
tered  into  his  soul,  and  his  happiness  at  the  overthrow 
of  the  Philistines  was  destroyed  by  the  sight  of  the  hon 
ored  victor  receiving  the  homage  and  praise  due  to  his 
courage. 

That  night  the  king  slept  not.  He  paced  his  chamber 
gloomily,  and  refused  to  be  spoken  to.  At  sunrise,  I 
visited  him  at  the  earnest  request  of  Jonathan,  who  said 
all  the  elders  and  the  council  of  the  city  with  the  priests 
would  soon  be  assembled  to  do  him  honor ;  and  he  urged 
me  to  prevail  upon  the  king  to  receive  them.  The  guard 
at  his  door  did  not  hesitate  to  admit  me,  but  said,  "  He 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  25ft 

prophesleth,  my  lord  prince."  King  Saul  was  address 
ing  himself  (when  I  entered)  to  empty  space,  in  a  tone 
of  mingled  anguish  and  wrath. 

"  Behold,  and  see  if  there  be  any  sorrow  like  my  sor 
row,  which  is  done  unto  me !  Behold  how  the  Lord 
hath  afflicted  me  in  the  day  of  his  fierce  anger : — 

"  He  prevaileth  against  me  ! 
lie  hath  spread  a  net  for  my  feet ! 
He  hath  poured  his  vials  on  my  head ! 
He  hath  bound  me  with  the  yoke  of  my  transgressions. 
He  hath  made  my  strength  to  fail : 
He  hath  brought  mine  honor  to  the  ground. 
He  hath  shamed  me  in  the  sight  of  my  people ; 
He  hath  given  mine  honor  to  another ! 
All  mine  enemies  have  heard  of  my  trouble ; 
They  are  glad  that  thou  hast  done  it ! 
I  am  the  man  that  hath  seen  affliction  ! 
By  the  rod  of  his  wrath  hath  he  smitten  me  ! 
He  hath  led  me  into  darkness,  and  not  into  light. 
He  turns  his  hand  against  me  all  the  day. 
He  hath  hedged  me  about :  I  cannot  move : 
He  hath  put  a  chain  upon  me  and  bound  me : 
Also,  when  I  cry  he  shutteth  out  my  prayer ! 
He  is  as  a  bear  and  a  lion  lying  in  wait  for  me. 
He  hath  set  me  as  a  mark  for  his  arrow. 
The  arrows  of  his  quiver  have  pierced  my  soul. 
I  am  a  derision  to  my  people.     They  make  their  songs  of  ma : 
My  strength  and  my  hope  is  perished. 
I  lift  my  hands  unto  the  Lord,  and  say  to  my  God — 
I  have  transgressed  and  rebelled  and  thou  forgivest  not; 
Thou  hast  slain — thou  hast  not  pitied. 
Thou  hast  covered  thyself  with  anger, 
Thou  hast  covered  thyself  with  a  cloud, 
That  uiy  prayer  should  not  pass  through. 
My  warriors  scorn  me — as  for  my  soldiers, 
1  am  their  music.     All  men  hunt  my  steps, 


256         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

I  cannot  go  into  the  streets !     They  talk  of  me  : 

The  Lord  has  utterly  rejected  him — let  his  name  perish — 

Let  his  inheritance  be  turned  to  strangers — 

His  house  to  aliens." 

"  0  king,  live  forever  !"  I  cried,  interrupting  his  pro 
phesying,  which  was  an  appeal  between  a  prayer  and  a 
complaint  to  some  invisible  one. 

He  turned  upon  me — 

"Is  it  thou,  Prince  of  Assur?     What  wouldst  thou?" 

"  To  ask  thee  to  meet  the  elders  and  council  of  this 
and  other  cities,  who  desire  to  honor  thee." 

"Where  is  the  shepherd,  Jesse's  son?"  he  asked, 
fiercely. 

"With  Jonathan!" 

1  Aye!  aye!"  he  responded,  sneeringly,  "with  the 
prince !  No,  no !  I  give  no  audience  to-day !  I  am 
ill !  Where  is  this  harp  player?" 

"Dost  thou  mean  the  chief  player  of  instruments?" 
I  asked. 

"No,  David;  he  who  once  played  before  me,  when 
they  said  I  was  mad !" 

"I  will  send  him  to  your  majesty,"  I  answered. 

"  Do  so — thou  wilt  befriend  me,  0  Assyrian,  if  thou 
wilt  bid  him  come  and  bring  his  harp !  Hark  ye,  my 
lord  of  Assur,"  and  the  king  approached  and  whispered 
in  my  ear,  in  a  low,  strange  whisper,  "tell  him  not  I 
sent  for  him !  The  lad  is  vain  enough  now,  and  mind 
Jonathan  come  not  with  him !  Bid  him  bring  his  harp 
and  play  before  me  !" 

I  looked  in  King  Saul's  face  attentively,  his  manner 
and  tone  were  so  singular.  But  he  suddenly  veiled  all 
expression,  so  that  his  looks  were  divested  of  all  mean 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      257 

ing.  It  was  the  art  of  madness,  so  completely  and  sud 
denly  to  empty  the  eyes  of  all  intelligence.  It  seemed 
as  if  he  sougiit  to  hide  a  thought  he  feared  I  might  read. 
But  I  then  suspected  nothing.  I  may  still  do  him  injus 
tice  ;  as  what  subsequently  occurred,  0  Belus,  may  not 
have  been  premeditated,  but  only  the  impulse  of  the  mo 
ment  ;  but  I  fear  it  was  premeditated.  I  obeyed  the 
king,  and  David  soon  appeared  in  the  king's  pre 
sence.  Neither  he  nor  Jonathan  had  heard  the  king's 
remark  about  the  song  of  the  virgins,  and  had  no  sus 
picion  he  felt  any  malice  or  jealousy. 

I  went  in  with  David,  and  so  also  did  Jonathan ;  and 
while  the  youth  stood  near  the  wall  on  the  west  side  of 
the  room  playing  a  noble  hymn,  we  remained  not  far 
from  the  entrance.  The  king  sat  upon  the  lower  step 
of  his  throne,  his  face  leaning  upon  his  left  hand.  He 
did  not  raise  his  eyes  when  David  entered,  who,  striking 
a  few  noble  preluding  notes,  thus  began : — 

"  0  sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song, 
Sing  unto  the  Lord  all  the  whole  earth. 
Declare  his  glory  among  the  heathen, 
His  wonders  among  all  people. 
Honor  and  majesty  are  before  him, 
Strength  and  beauty  are  in  his  sanctuary. 
O  sing  unto  the  Lord  a  new  song, 
For  he  hath  done  marvelous  things ; 
His  right  hand  and  his  holy  arm 
Hath  gotten  him  the  victory. 
Sing  unto  the  Lord  with  the  harp 
With  the  harp  and  the  voice  of  a  song." 

At  this  instant,  while  the  last  glorious  words  were  yet 
echoing  through  the  hall  in  divinest  melody,  the  kins;  rose 
to  his  feet  and  cast  with  all  his  force  a  javelin,  hitherto 


258          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

unseen  in  his  hand,  straight  at  the  heart  of  the  youthful 
player  !  The  prince  and  I  both  uttered  a  cry  of  alarm,  hut 
David,  whose  eyes  were  upon  the  king,  saw  the  act  and 
stepping  aside  avoided  the  hlow.  The  flying  javelin, 
whizzing  through  the  air,  struck  the  wall  close  hehind 
him,  and  buried  itself  deep  therein,  vibrating  like  a  leaf. 

The  prince  rushed  forward  and  caught  his  friend  in 
his  arms,  and  burst  into  tears. 

"  God  has  preserved  you,"  he  said.  "But  forgive  my 
poor  father." 

"It  is  nothing,"  answered  the  young  man  with  a 
smile. 

We  at  once  drew  him  forth  from  the  king's  presence. 

From  this  time  Saul  took  no  pains  to  conceal  his 
jealousy  and  hatred  of  David.  He  saw  that  the  Spirit 
of  the  Lord,  as  said  Abner  to  me,  was  upon  him ;  and 
probably  foresaw  in  him  the  future  prince  of  the  people. 
The  king,  singularly,  was  sane  from  the  moment  he  dis 
charged  the  javelin  ;  and  went  forth  and  received  the 
deputations  in  his  natural  manner.  The  people,  however, 
could  talk  only  of  David  ;  and  of  the  thousands  who  came 
from  all  the  cities  of  Judea  to  congratulate  Saul,  their 
first  inquiry  was  not  for  the  king ;  but  for  David  who 
slew  the  mighty  Philistine  of  Gath!  All  this  came  to 
Saul's  ears,  and  increased  his  gloomy  displeasure  at 
him.  David  behaved  himself  wisely  and  prudently. 
Saul  dismissed  him  from  his  high  command,  and  made 
him  captain  only  of  a  thousand.  He  would,  without 
doubt,  have  sent  him  away  from  his  court  if  he  had  not 
feared  the  people,  especially  the  army,  who  idolized  their 
young  hero.  David  tried  to  turn  all  the  adulation  from 
himself  to  the  king,  and  in  his  whole  conduct  in  a  situation 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      259 

so  trying  proved  himself  wise,  discreet,  and  worthy  of 
all  honor.  But  the  more  Saul  saw  of  his  wise  and  mo 
dest  behavior,  and  that  he  did  not  commit  himself  to  any 
imprudence  or  folly,  the  deeper  his  hostility  became,  and 
his  dread  of  him  increased. 

CAMP,  SOUTH  OF  HEBRON. 

Your  majesty  will  be  gratified  to  learn  that  the  over 
throw  of  the  army  of  the  Philistines  has  opened  the  way 
to  Egypt,  and  that  I  have  already  made  one  short  march, 
having  yesterday  broken  up  my  long  encampment  in  the 
plain  of  Mamre,  and  passing  round  Hebron,  pitched  my 
camp  a  league  south  of  it.  This  I  have  done  in  order  to 
wait  for  a  company  of  Jewish  merchants  who  desire  to 
embrace  this  opportunity  afforded  by  my  strong  force  to 
go  down  into  Egypt  to  carry  merchandize,  and  bring 
from  thence  the  productions  of  the  land  of  the  Nile. 
King  Saul  has  encouraged  this  traffic  hitherto,  but  the 
late  wars  have  put  an  end  to  it  for  some  years.  There  is 
now,  thanks  to  the  valor  of  David,  security  of  travel. 
At  the  request  of  Prince  Jonathan,  I  have  consented  to 
permit  the  seventy  Hebrew  merchants  to  go  and  return 
with  me.  To-inorrow  they  will  all  be  ready  ;  and  I  know 
your  majesty  will  be  pleased  to  have  me  to  do  all  that 
lies  in  my  power  to  cultivate  friendly  relations  with  this 
singular  people. 

As  I  have  some  leisure  this  evening  in  my  tent,  I  will 
devote  it  to  an  account  of  an  interesting  visit  I  paid,  three 
days  ago,  to  the  tombs  of  the  four  kingly  Patriarchs,  Abra 
ham,  Isaac,  Jacob,  and  Joseph,  the  founders  and  fathers 
of  the  Hebrew  nation.  Prince  Jonathan  and  David  ac 
companied  me.  or  rather  I  went  with  them  by  the  in  vita- 


260  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID:    OR, 

tion  of  the  former.  Mounted  upon  horses,  we  rode  a 
little  while  along  the  plain  of  Mamre  until  we  came  to 
the  face  of  a  rocky  eminence,  broken  and  picturesque  in 
appearance,  parts  of  it  towering  in  gloomy  grandeur. 
In  advance  of  this  cliff  was  a  lower  rock,  before  which 
was  a  massive  house  of  stone  many  feet  thick.  It  was 
venerable  with  age,  and  seemed  to  have  been  erected 
more  for  perpetuity  than  beauty  of  proportion.  It 
was  stern,  massive,  and  solemn.  Before  its  stone  gate 
grew  four  majestic  palm  trees,  each  sacred  to  one  of  the 
patriarchs.  The  path  to  the  entrance  was  broad  and 
well  trodden  by  the  feet  of  the  thousands  who  continually 
go  to  the  place ;  for  it  is  a  reproach  to  a  Hebrew  to 
have  lived  to  his  fortieth  year  without  having  visited  the 
tomb  of  the  patriarchs  of  his  race.  There  stood  several 
old  men,  youths,  and  maidens  about  the  portal,  who  with 
silent  reverence  gazed  upon  the  gate ;  for  no  one  can 
enter  without  permission  of  the  king  or  High  Priest. 

We  alighted,  and  leaving  our  horses  in  charge  of  the 
prince's  armor-bearer,  we  approached  the  entrance.  An 
old  man,  noble  in  aspect,  opened  the  gate  to  the  prince. 
We  took  torches  and  a  guide,  who  was  a  Levite,  whose 
office  it  was  to  show  the  sepulchres,  as  well  as  to  keep 
trimmed  a  lamp  which  burned  night  and  day  over  each 
of  them. 

The  passage  for  the  distance  of  a  few  cubits  was  artifi 
cial,  enclosed  with  walls  of  stone,  but  soon  joined  the 
entrance  of  a  cave,  which  was  irregular  and  gently  in 
clined.  The  surface  of  the  rock  was  blackened  with  the 
smoke  of  the  torches  of  pilgrims  for  nearly  a  thousand 
years  ;  for  Abraham  has  been  buried  there  but  little  less 
than  nine  hundred  years,  Isaac  about  one  hundred  years 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      261 

later,  and  Jacob  but  thirty  later.  The  bones  of  Joseph, 
having  been  detained  in  Egypt  and  in  the  wilderness  one 
hundred  and  ninety  years,  were  only  placed  here  about; 
four  hundred  and  ninety  years  ago.  Thus  this  cave  is 
what  we  in  Assyria  would  call  the  "House  of  the  gods 
of  the  land."  As  I  moved  along  the  echoing  passage 
under  the  everlasting  rock,  I  felt  the  spirit  of  ages  im 
pressing  my  soul.  Awe  filled  my  mind  at  the  idea  of 
approaching  the  last  "abodes  of  rest"  of  the  mighty 
dead. 

At  length  we  came  into  a  chamber  of  the  rock.  It  was 
wide  and  large.  The  torches  faintly  revealed  its  size 
and  form,  At  its  extremity  we  saw  a  solitary  lamp  sus 
pended  by  bronze  chains  from  the  irregular  roof. 

We  removed  our  shoes  from  our  feet  as  we  trod  oii 
holy  ground,  and  reverently  drew  near.  The  silence 
which  filled  this  cavern  of  the  dead  was  profound. 
Neither  of  us  spoke.  The  guide  reverently  led  us  first 
to  a  tomb  on  the  left  or  west  of  the  entrance,  about 
seven  feet  long,  of  dark  porphyry,  and  by  the  side  of  it 
another  of  smaller  size  ;  the  lamp  above  shed  its  calm, 
soft  light  upon  them. 

"Who  sleeps  here  ?"  I  asked  of  the  prince,  who  had 
often  visited  the  sacred  sepulchres. 

"  This  is  the  tomb  of  Isaac,"  he  said  solemnly.  "lie 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  ( 
years.  You  perceive  his  name  graven  upon  the  top  in 
ancient  Chaldaic  characters.  The  tomb  next  to  it,  north, 
is  that  of  the  virtuous  Rebecca,  his  wife.  There  they 
have  reposed  nearly  seven  hundred  and  fifty  years. 
Their  bodies  are  within  stone  coffins  enclosed  in  these 
outer  tombs." 


262  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

From  thence  we  passed  westward  along  the  cave,  and 
through  an  opening  in  a  thick  wall,  which  led  into  a  spa 
cious  and  lofty  chamber  where  two  lamps  faintly  re 
vealed  a  gigantic  tomb  beneath  each  of  them.  We  drew 
reverently  near,  and  stopped  before  the  first  one,  which 
was  of  dark  stone,  five  feet  high  and  twelve  in  length — 
like  the  sepulchre  of  a  giant. '  By  the  side  of  it  was  a 
tomb  of  equal  size. 

"  This,"  said  the  prince,  who  courteously  volunteered 
all  the  information  I  required,  "  is  the  mausoleum  of  the 
mighty  patriarch  Abraham — the  monarch  of  our  race  ! 
Sarah  his  wife  lies  in  the  tomb  next  to  him,  and  here  for 
nearly  nine  hundred  years  they  have  slept  undisturbed  ! 
And  here,  tradition  says,  he  will  sleep  until  a  descendant 
from  his  loins  shall  be  king  of  the  whole  earth,  and  come 
hither  and  bid  him  rise  and  walk  forth ;  when  he  will 
hear  his  voice,  and  rise  from  his  sleep  of  death,  and  re 
ceive  from  this  son  the  sceptre  and  crown  of  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  earth,  and  reign  thereon  forever." 

"And  dost  thou,  0  prince,"  I  asked,  "have  confidence 
in  this  prediction  ?" 

"I  know  not,  Arbaces,"  he  answered.  "I  have  al 
ready  told  you  we  are  a  nation  of  mysteries,  and  that  we 
are  but  instruments  working  out  some  divine  problem  for 
God's  glory  and  the  benefit  of  mankind." 

Now  I  stood  for  a  few  moments  in  silent  meditation 
by  the  tomb  of  this  potentate  and  father  of  a  mighty 
people ;  and  then  followed  our  guide  across  the  cave  to 
a  part  of  it  where  two  more  tombs,  both  larger  in  size 
than  that  of  Abraham,  and  more  elaborate  in  workman 
ship,  and  constructed  of  marble,  met  our  view. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      2G3 

"  Here  is  buried  Jacob,  the  patriarch  of  our  people 
and  father  of  twelve  nations,"  said  the  prince. 

David  gazed  upon  this  sepulchre,  as  he  had  upon  the 
others,  with  reverent  contemplation.  His  aspect  seemed 
elevated  and  ennobled  by  this  vicinity  with  the  mighty 
dead  of  his  race.  He  spoke  but  once  or  twice,  hut  his 
words  were  striking,  and  expressed  the  depth  of  his  emo 
tions  ;  for  this  was  the  first  time  he  had  come  to  this 
spot  so  honored  by  his  countrymen. 

"And  here  is  buried  Leah?"  he  asked  of  his  friend, 
pointing  to  the  other  vast  tomb  by  its  side. 

"No,"  he  answered;  "here  is  buried  Rachel,  his  best 
beloved  wife.  Leah  is  also  buried  in  the  cave  where  you 
see  this  lower  tomb  on  the  right  of  the  patriarchs,  and 
farther  removed  from  it  than  Rachel's.  It  is  sunken 
and  out  of  repair  ;  for  though  more  of  our  tribes  de 
scended  from  Leah,  yet  Rachel's  memory  is  more  cher 
ished  and  honored  by  the  nation  ;  perhaps,  because  she 
was  more  honored  by  the  patriarch." 

"Where,"  asked  David,  looking  round,  seeking  to 
penetrate  the  gloom  of  the  vast  subterranean  chamber, 
"was  the  brave  and  noble  Joseph  buried?" 

"  This  way,"  said  the  Levite ;  and,  turning  to  the  left, 
he  conducted  us  through  a  narrow  opening  in  the  south 
wall,  partly  rock,  partly  artificial,  which  was  nine  feet 
in  thickness  ;  and  we  found  ourselves  in  a  narrow  apart- 
ment  hewn  partly  out  of  the  rock,  and  with  a  cavernous 
roof,  lighted  dimly  by  a  single  lamp  of  Egyptian  form. 

Here  we  beheld  a  tomb  about  eight  feet  long  and  four 
wide,  purely  Egyptian  in  its  style,  even  with  the  winged 
sun  sculptured  upon  its  side,  and  the  figure  of  Osiris  on 


264  THE    THROXE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

one  end.     Upon  the  top  was  written  in  Hebrew  and  in 
Egyptian  characters : — 

"JOSEPH  THE  VIRTUOUS: 

THE  WISe THE  GREAT  ; 

FRIEND  OF  GOD,  AND  GUARDIAN  or  EGYPT." 

"  This  is  the  tomb  of  the  patriarch  who  was  lord  of 
Egypt,"  said  the  guide.  "Within  this  outer  tomb  is  a 
sarcophagus  in  which  the  embalmed  body  was  brought 
up  from  Egypt.  There  are  times  in  the  heat  of  sum 
mer,  when  the  cave  is  not  so  cool  as  now,  when  the  sub 
tle  aroma  of  the  spices  with  which  he  was  embalmed  fills 
the  whole  place !" 

After  lingering  here  some  time  and  talking  of  Joseph, 
we  returned  through  the  main  chamber  of  the  cavern, 
visiting  again  each  of  the  tombs  of 'the  immortal  dead ! 

"Are  any  of  the  twelve  patriarchs  buried  here?"  I 
asked  of  the  prince. 

"  None  of  them  !  They  all  lie  buried  in  the  land  of 
Goshen  in  Egypt,"  he  answered,  "unless  the  tradition 
be  true  that  Joseph  sent  the  body  of  his  brother,  Benja 
min,  thither  when  he  was  in  power  for  sepulchre.  There 
are  five  other  tombs  in  another  and  remoter  part  of  this 
cave  of  Machpelah.  One  is  said  to  be  that  of  Benjamin, 
and  another  that  of  Judah,  sent  here  by  Joseph.  The 
third  is  known  to  be  that  of  Zobar,  the  father  of  Ephron, 
of  whom  Abraham  bought  this  cave  for  a  burying-place  ; 
and  the  fourth  that  of  Heth,  the  first  king  of  Canaan,  a 
thousand  years  ago ;  and  the  fifth  where  Ephron  was 
buried,  he  having  reserved  a  burial  place  for  himself  here. 
It  is  a  branch  of  the  main  cave,  walled  off  from  it  and 
never  visited  in  this  day  and  generation." 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      265 

Having  at  length  emerged  from  these  subterraneous 
sepulchral  abodes  of  the  majestic  men  of  the  past,  we 
regained  the  chief  outlet,  and  remounting  our  horses 
rode  towards  Hebron,  which  is  at  this  day  called  "  The 
Castle  of  Avraam"  by  the  Canaanites.  Here  the  patri 
arch  once  dwelt  and  held  his  power  as  king  after  he  had 
conquered  five  heathen  kings.  In  Salem,  or  Solima, 
twenty -four  miles  north  of  this,  at  the  time  reigned  Mel- 
chisedek,  a  king  whose  name  is  spoken  with  veneration 
by  all  the  Hebrews  as  the  friend  and  ally  of  Abraham. 

And  this  reminds  me,  your  majesty,  that  I  have  not 
informed  you  of  a  visit  I  made  to  this  ancient  capital  of 
the  land  in  the  days  of  Abraham.  I  have  already  writ 
ten  of  the  remarkable  castle  of  the  Jebusites  which  covers 
a  rocky  height  south  of  the  town  of  Solima,  called, 
usually,  Jebusolem  from  the  castle  which  commands  it. 
In  this  town  of  Salem  there  is  an  armory  or  temple  of 
war  in  which  all  trophies  taken  by  the  Hebrews  are  kept. 
In  Nineveh  it  would  be  called  a  temple  of  the  "  god  of 
war."  But  the  Hebrews  recognize  but  one  God,  who 
governs,  controls,  and  performs  all  things,  who  thunders 
in  the  skies,  who  sends  forth  lightning,'  who  rides  on  the 
storms  that  lash  the  seas,  who  fights  their  battles,  who 
ripens  their  harvests,  who  causes  the  sun  and  moon  and 
stars  to  rise  and  set,  who  created  not  only  the  mountains 
but  the  pebbles  in  its  brooks,  who  made  even  the  lily  of 
the  valley,  and  equally  the  eagle  and  the  fly  !  This  one 
idea  of  a  supreme  God,  who  condescends  from  the  highest 
to  the  lowest,  pervades  all  their  religion,  and  is  its  foun 
dation.  When  I  said  to  the  prince,  one  day  as  we  were 
talking  in  my  tent,  that  we  Assyrians  had  higher  ideas  of 
a  supreme  God  than  to  attribute  the  creation  of  flowers 


266 


THE    TIIKONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 


and  singing  birds  to  so  majestic  a  Power,  he  replied  : 
"That  to  an  infinite  Being  there  was  no  sur.h  thing  as 
great  or  small !  noble  or  mean  !  That  He  himself  was 
the  measure  and  standard  of  all  .things  existing."  He 
asked  me  who  created  the  flowers  according  to  our  orien 
tal  faith,  I  replied,  "  We  believe  there  is  a  supreme 
Cause  of  all !  that  He  was  not  created  !  for  if  there  were 
a  time  when  there  was  no  God,  there  would  never  have 
been  a  God !  and  if  there  never  had  been  a  God  there 
would  be  now  no  God  !  Therefore,  if  there  is  a  God,  He 
has  always  existed !  We  believe  He  created  the  hea 
vens  and  the  earth,  and  that  his  dwelling  place  is  in  the 
sun,  which  we  honor  as  the  temple,  and  throne,  and  visi 
ble  presence  of  the  Supreme.  Hence  our  emblem  of 
God  is  fire.  We  believe  that  He  created  man,  because  we 
are  intelligent  and  reasoning  beings  as  He  must  be  him 
self;  but  we  deny  that  He  stooped  to  create  the  soul 
less  brutes  and  meaner  things ;  that  he  formed  the 
mountains,  but  left  the  trees  and  plants  thereon  to  lesser 
divinities ;  that  He  created  the  ocean,  but  not  fountains  : 
hence  we  have  a  deity  to  every  fountain  and  to  each 
lesser  thing." 

He  heard  me  with  great  patience,  and  asked  me  if  I 
would  read  the  books  of  the  sacred  mysteries  of  their 
Uni-Deic  faith.  I  have  promised  to  do  so,  your  majesty, 
and  if  I  am  convinced  that  there  is  but  one  God  alone,  I 
will  not  hesitate  to  change  my  faith.  If  there  is  but 
one  God,  I  cannot  but  perceive  that  He  is  the  mighty 
Deity  who  guides  the  destinies  of  the  Hebrew  people,  as 
they  assert ;  for  two  such  mighty  Powers  could  not  ex 
ist  in  the  universe.  I  can  conceive  of  none  superior, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      267 

and  if  there  were  an  equal  in  power  they  would  destroy 
each  other  :  that  is,  become  One. 

But  to  my  visit  to  Salem.  After  David  reached  He 
bron,  he  was  reminded  by  Jonathan  that  the  trophies  he 
had  won  should  be  conveyed  to  the  temple  of  arms  in 
Jerusalem,  as  the  prince  terms  the  name  of  the  town. 
We,  therefore,  one  morning  rode  thither,  David  bearing 
the  head  and  sword,  (assisted  by  his  three  brethren,)  and 
others  conveying  the  coat-of-mail,  helmet  of  brass,  greaves, 
and  trousers  of  iron  chains,  flexible  as  woven  cloth.  We 
wound  along  the  deep  valley  under  the  wall  of  the  gar 
rison  of  the  Jebusites,  who  covered  their  battlements  to 
behold  the  trophies. 

"  The  day  will  come,"  said  David,  as  we  glanced  at 
these  ancient  foes  of  his  race,  yet  unconquered,  though 
living  at  peace  with  the  Hebrews,  "  when  some  brave 
king  of  Israel  will  drive  these  vultures  from  their  rock, 
and  plant  above  the  fortress  the  standard  of  God  !  This 
Salem,  and  not  Hebron,  ought  to  be  the  capital  of  the 
kingdom  !" 

He  seemed  to  speak  as  by  inspiration  !  His  eyes  were 
bright  and  flashing,  and  his  voice  rung  like  a  trumpet ! 
We  were  all  surprised ;  it  was  so  unlike  his  usual  man 
ner,  which  was  retiring  and  quiet.  If,  your  majesty, 
the  conquest  be  effected,  I  felt  it  would  be  by  his  arm 
when  he  shall  become  king  !  "  And — ,"  I  hear  your  ma 
jesty  say  to  yourself,  "  and  does  my  Arbaces  believe  in 
all  this  vaticination  ?  Does  he  have  faith  in  all  that  is 
told -him  of  the  future  of  this  youth?" 

I  have,  your  majesty,  I  answer.  He  is  yet  young. 
Saul  may  live  many  years.  But  if  you  or  I  will  watch 
his  career,  we  shall  yet,  if  we  live,  see  him  or  hear  of 


268  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

him  as  king  of  the  Hebrews !  If  so,  he  will  no  doubt 
make  Jerusalem  the  capital  of  his  dominions.  If  he  be 
comes  king,  with  his  valor,  wisdom,  prudence,  sagacity, 
and  friendship  with  his  God,  he  will  elevate  this  nation 
to  the  first  place  among  warlike  and  powerful  kingdoms. 

After  going  round  the  steep  rock  of  Sion,  held  by  the 
Jebusites,  we  passed  the  base  of  a  lofty  hill,  called  Mo- 
riah,  or  the  *  far-seen  top,'  on  which,  and  its  adjacent  region, 
the  chief  part  of  the  city  is  built,  and  where  stands  the 
armory.  We  were  admitted  on  the  north  side  by  a  gate 
strongly  guarded,  and  received  writh  shouts  of  a  thousand 
troops  which,  under  their  captain,  garrisoned  the  place  to 
hold  it  against  Philistines  and  Jebusites.  The  armory 
was  a  strongly  built  edifice  of  Canaanitish  architecture, 
having  once  been  a  temple  of  Baal,  and  then  the  palace 
of  the  king  whom  Joshua  slew  when  he  took  the  city. 
David's  trophies  were  received  by  the  keeper  of  the 
citadel,  the  sword  and  head  being  delivered  with  his  own 
hand  to  the  lord  of  the  armory.  He  himself  was  treated 
with  the  greatest  distinction,  and  Eliab,  and  Abinadab, 
and  Shammah,  took  great  pains  to  make  known  aloud 
to  the  admiring  soldiers  and  citizens  that  they  were  bro 
thers  to  the  hero ! 

Here  we  were  shown  the  throne  of  Melchisedek,  cut 
in  the  face  of  a  rock  over  which  was  erected  a  mausoleum 
of  stone.  It  bore  no  inscription.  Of  this  king  there 
is  a  tradition  that  he  descended  from  the  clouds  when  an 
infant,  borne  earthward  by  seven  white  doves,  sustained 
by  their  united  wings ;  that  they  laid  him  upon  an  altar 
of  white  marble  at  which  a  priest  of  Baal  was  offering 
incense;  that  the  priest  preserved  and  nourished  him, 
but  he  was  fed  by  the  doves  with  olives  and  grapes,  and 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      269 

so  grew  to  manhood,  when  he  taught  the  pagan  priest 
the  knowledge  of  the  true  God,  and  converted  the  whole 
people  to  the  pure  worship  of  heaven.  He  became  king, 
priest,  and  prophet  of  the  kingdom,  and  after  ruling  in 
wisdom  and  love  for  a  long  life,  he  drew  near  his  end. 

Then  he  comforted  his  subjects  by  promising  to  them 
another  king  from  heaven,  who  should,  after  a  brief 
reign,  be  slain  by  the  evil  powers  of  the  earth,  but  revive, 
and  establish  a  kingdom  which  should  extend  from  the 
rising  to  the  going  down  of  the  sun,  of  which  Jerusalem 
should  be  the  capital  forever.  Thus  speaking,  and  when 
they  expected  to  sec  him  expire,  there  came  seven  bright 
angels  to  his  couch,  and  lifting  the  majestic  king  upon 
their  wings,  communicated  to  his  form  the  glorious  illum 
ination  of  their  own  splendor,  and  bore  him  out  of  sight 
into  the  heavens. 

Therefore  the  empty  stone-throne  and  the  vacant  ceno 
taph  in  remembrance  of  his  reign ! 

I  have  written,  your  majesty,  a  long  letter ;  but  I 
desire  to  give  you  all  the  information  I  myself  possess 
of  this  land  and  people,  and  I  do  not  shrink  from  the 
labor  of  writing  whatsoever  I  think  will  contribute  to 
this  end.  I  introduce  into  my  letters  no  incidents  merely 
for  the  sake  of  their  interest,  but  because  they  in  some 
way  illustrate  the  past  and  the  present  of  the  Hebrews,, 
and  give  you  a  knowledge  of  their  manners,  customs, 
and  peculiarities  as  a  nation. 

I  shall  to-morrow  proceed  on  my  march  towards  Egypt, 
after  three  months'  detention  in  the  land  of  Judea.  I 
hope  to  be  in  Egypt  in  twenty  days'  easy  travel.  I  am 
on  the  road  taken  a  thousand  years  ago  by  Abraham, 
by  Jacob  and  his  sons  during  the  famine,  by  Joseph 


270  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

when  he  came  up  to  bury  his  father  Jacob,  with  a  great 
retinue  of  Egyptian  lords  and  men-at-arms.  It  is  there 
fore  a  highway  well  known  and  full  of  interest. 

I  shall,  early  in  the  morning,  after  seeing  my  caravan 
well  in  motion,  ride  into  Hebron  to  take  my  leave  of  the 
king,  of  the  noble  prince  to  whom  I  am  greatly  attached, 
of  the  valorous  and  wonderful  David  whom  I  love  scarcely 
less,  of  the  valiant  Abner,  Saul's  general  in  chief,  of  the 
ambitious  and  fierce  young  Joab,  who  seems  fit  only  for 
a  man  of  war,  and  lastly  not  least,  of  the  princess  Michal, 
and  Adora  the  beautiful  and  captivating  daughter  of 
Isrilid  of  Jericho. 

I  may  write,  your  majesty,  on  the  route,  if  a  caravan 
should  meet  us  :  otherwise  I  shall  not  send  you  another 
letter  until  I  reach  Egypt.  Once  there,  I  trust  I  shall 
so  succeed  with  the  important  and  agreeable  mission  your 
confidence  in  me  has  intrusted  to  me,  that  I  shall  speedily 
return  with  the  lovely  prize  you  are  so  anxious  to  pos 
sess. 

With  the  prayer,  that  the  gods  of  your  royal  House  may 
have  your  majesty  in  their  sacred  keeping,  I  am,  as  ever, 

Your  faithful 

ARBACES. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      271 


LETTER    IX. 

ARBACES  TO  THE  KING. 

BEERSHEBA,  BORDERS  OF  IDTTMEA. 

YOUR  MAJESTY: 

I  AM  to-night  encamped  by  the  "  Well  of  the  Oath," 
in  a  palm  grove  opposite  the  gate  of  this  southern  bor 
der-city  of  Judea.  By  this  well,  a  thousand  years  ago, 
Abimelec,  a  king  of  Gerar,  and  Abraham,  the  father  of 
the  Hebrews,  made  a  covenant  of  amity.  Here  at  this 
fountain  the  ancient  Chaldee  used  to  lead  tc  water  his 
thousands  of  camels  and  tens  of  thousands  of  sheep.  It 
is  regarded  as  a  sacred  place  by  the  Hebrews,  who,  with 
fine  feeling,  honor  every  place  made  historical  by  asso 
ciation  with  their  "three  great  patriarchs." 

The  dark-walled  town  of  Beersheba  frowns  down  upon 
my  encampment,  and  from  within  it  I  hear  the  voices  of 
singing  women,  and  the  sound  of  the  nebal  and  the  harp, 
as  if  there  were  rejoicing  going  on  in  some  happy  home. 

This  place  is  twenty  miles  south  of  Hebron,  and  we 
have  been  since  sunrise  coming  from  a  league  this  side 
of  that  city,  where  my  last  letter  left  me  encamped. 
Therein  I  informed  your  majesty  that  I  should  march 
the  following  morning.  At  dawn,  therefore,  our  tents 
were  struck,  and  at  sunrise  the  chief  captain  of  the  cara- 


THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

van  had  the  whole  body  in  motion.  The  seventy  He 
brew  merchants,  mounted  on  mules  and  horses,  joined 
in  good  time,  and  I  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
my  people  move  southward.  First  went  four  hundred 
horsemen  of  my  legion,  then  followed  the  two  hundred 
camels  laden  with  the  bridal  gifts  with  their  drivers,  and 
after  them  the  three  hundred  led  Assyrian  horses,  save 
twenty  of  the  handsomest  I  had  presented  to  the  king, 
two  to  the  prince,  and  two  to  David.  Behind  these  was 
the  long  train  of  four  hundred  mules  laden  with  provi 
sions  and  tent  equipage,  and  the  eighty  wagons  of  armor 
as  presents  to  the  king.  These  were  protected  by  two 
hundred  armed  horsemen  who  rode  behind  them.  Npw 
followed  the  two  hundred  chariots  of  war,  with  their  cha 
rioteers,  swordsmen,  and  beautifully  caparisoned  steeds 
two  and  three  abreast,  and  behind  them  came  three  hun 
dred  horsemen  of  my  legion  as  a  rear  guard.  My 
guard  of  nobles  had  no  particular  place  in  the  long 
procession,  but  kept  near  my  person,  as  I  sometimes 
would  ride  in  the  van,  sometimes  in  the  rear,  and  at 
other  times  in  the  centre,  or  to  the  right  or  left  over  the 
plain  I  The  seventy  Hebrew  merchants,  with  a  motley 
company  of  others  who  attached  themselves  to  the  cara 
van  for  protection,  took  places  in  the  column  as  suited 
their  convenience.  The  whole  line  of  march  extended 
half  a  mile,  and,  seen  from  an  elevation,  had,  with  its  gay 
colors  and  its  shining  steel,  an  imposing  and  brilliant,  if 
not  warlike  appearance. 

When  I  had  seen  it  fairly  on  the  highway,  I  galloped 
at  the  head  of  my  nobles  back  to  Hebron  to  take  leave 
of  the  king.  I  was  received  at  .the  entrance  of  the  house 
where  he  dwelt,  while  his  palace  was  being  finished,  by 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      273 

the  prince  whose  face  as  he  saluted  me  appeared  so  sad 
that  I  could  not  withhold  saying : — 

"I  fear,  my  lord  prince,  the  king  is  again  ill?" 

"Far  worse,  Arbaces,"  he  answered,  with  trembling 
accents.  "  He  has  again  attempted  the  life  of  David ! 
This  morning  he  sent  for  him  to  play  before  him.  He 
fearlessly  and  benevolently,  for  he  is  all  goodness  and 
love,  obeyed.  While  he  played,  the  king  a  second  time 
launched  a  javelin  at  his  head,  his  face  being  turned  from 
him.  It  was  not  steadily  thrown  in  the  passion  of  the 
act,  but  passed  close  to  his  cheek  fanning  it  with  its 
wind.  David  at  once  came  to  me,  and  said : — 

." '  It  is  necessary  that  I  should  leave  the  king's  pre 
sence  forever  !  The  sight  of  me  increases  his  malady. 
It  is  no  longer  within  the  power  of  music  to  soothe  him, 
as  it  was  two  years  ago  !' 

"I  could  not,  0  Arbaces,  gainsay  his  words.  We 
embraced,  and  he  was  about  to  depart  when  the  king, 
my  father,  suddenly  stood  before  us  !  He  extended  his 
hand  with  one  of  those  fine  smiles  which  in  his  best  days 
so  often  won  the  hearts  of  his  people,  and  said : — 

"  '  Nay,  go  not  away,  son  of  Jesse  !  I  meant  not  to 
slay  thee  !  I  will  no  more  test  thy  courage  with  making 
thee  a  mark  for  my  javelin.  The  mood  is  gone  !  How 
is  it  thou  hast  not  asked  my  daughter  yet  ?  The  order 
for  the  talents  of  gold  and  silver,  at  thy  request,  when 
thou  refusedst  them,  I  sent  to  thy  venerable  father ! 
Wilt  thou  have  my  elder  daughter,  Merab,  to  wife,  young 
man,  even  as  I  promised  the  victor  over  Goliath  of  Gath  ? 
I  will  give  her  to  thee  to  wife  according  to  my  kingly 
oath  on  the  plain  of  Elah  !' 

"'Nay,  your  majesty,  I  am  but  a  shepherd,'  replied 

18 


274  THE   TIIROXE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

David,  modestly ;  '  who  am  I  that  I  should  be  son-in-law 
to  the  king?' 

"  Then  said  I  to  my  father,  0  Arbaces,  <  My  eldest  sis 
ter  is  betrothed  to  Adriel  of  Meholath.  If  thou  givest 
one  of  my  sisters  to  David,  let  it  be  Michal !' 

"  *  "What !  doth  he  refuse  Merab?'  demanded  the  king, 
fiercely,  striking  his  hand  upon  his  sword.  '  Let  him  take 
her  and  I  will  give  him  five  thousand  men,  and  he  shall 
go  forth  and  fight  my  battles  !' 

* '  Here  Doeg,  his  armor-bearer,  spoke  aside  to  the 
king,  and  said,  so  that  I  could  hear, 

"  '  The  youth  loveth  the  younger  and  fairer  one,  my 
lord  king.' 

"  '  Sayest  thou  ?'  answered  my  father.  '  So  much  the 
better !  He  shall  have  her !  This  news  pleaseth  me 
vastly,  0  Doeg !  I  will  give  her  to  him,  and  she  will 
snare  him,  and  I  will  play  him  into  the  hands  of  the  Phi 
listines.  Let  not  mine  hand  be  upon  the  youth,  but  let 
the  Philistines  slay  him  !' 

"  Thus  answered  the  king  in  the  ear  of  his  wily  armor- 
bearer,"  continued  Jonathan,  in  relating  the  conversations 
and  events  ;  "  and  turned  to  David,  who  had  not  over 
heard  their  private  discourse,  and  said, 

" '  If  thou  preferrest  Michal,  I  will  give  thee  her.  Thou 
shalt  this  day  be  my  son-in-law  in  one  of  the  twain.  1 
desire  no  dowry !  All  I  ask  on  thy  part  is  to  bring  me 
the  heads  of  one  hundred  Philistines.' 

"At  these  words,  David,  who  would  risk  Ms  life  a 
hundred  times  for  love  of  Michal,"  added  Prince  Jona 
than,  "  answered  the  king,  with  his  eyes  bright,  with 
mingled  love  and  valiancy, 

"'The  words  of  the  lord,  my  king,  please  his  servant 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  275 

well.  I  will,  0  king,  receive  thy  fair  daughter  on  these 
conditions  thou  hast  named  !' 

"  I  at  once  saw,  0  Arbaces,  (for  I  conceal  nothing 
from  thec.)"  said  Prince  Jonathan,  "that  my  father 
hoped  to  cause  David  to  fall  by  the  swords  of  the  Phi 
listines.  Therefore  I  said  to  him,  *  0  king,  my  friend 
David  hath  already  won  Michal  by  the  death  of  Goliath. 
Wherefore  demand  a  second  trial  ?' 

"  'What !'  cried  my  father  ;  'art  thou  leagued  against 
me,  young  man  ?  Thou  nourishest  in  thy  bosom  a  ewe 
that  will  by  and  by  show  the  teeth  of  a  young  wolf,  and 
tear  out  thy  heart.' 

"  Thus  saying,  my  father  strode  away,  leaning  on 
Doeg,  the  crafty  Edornite,  and  looking  back  with  bitter 
envy  upon  David.  You  ask  me,  0  Prince  Arbaces,  why 
I  sorrow  ?  My  father  seeks  relentlessly  his  life.  The 
brave  young  man  has  already  departed,  and  taken  with  him 
one  hundred  men  to  invade  the  Philistine  country.  My 
tears  and  entreaties  could  not  prevail.  I  have  just  seen 
from  the  walls  his  company  disappear  in  the  gorges  of 
the  hills  over  against  the  gate  to  Gath.  What  will  be 
come  of  my  father?  What  will  become  of  the  kingdom? 
How  will  all  this  miserable  condition  of  things  end?"  he 
added  in  a  paroxysm  of  mingled  grief  and  shame. 

Your  majesty  may  perhaps  regard  it  as  singular  that  the 
prince  should  speak  with  me  so  freely  about  his  father's 
conduct.  But  the  condition  of  the  king  is  the  common 
talk  of  the  land ;  a-nd  every  new  outbreak  is  fresh  news 
for  the  curiosity  of  the  people.  Besides,  the  intimacy 
between  Jonathan  and  myself,  by  our  frequent  inter 
course,  is  become  very  close  and  confidential ;  and  he 
speaks  with  me  as  freely  as  if  I  were  a  brother.  I,  there- 


276  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

fore,  expressed  my  deepest  sympathy  for  him,  and  as 
sured  him  that  the  young  shepherd  would  ere  many  days 
return  with  the  trophies  of  victory  which  were  to  win  him 
his  lovely  bride. 

I  accompanied  the  prince  into  the  house  where  his  sis 
ter  Merab,  a  tall,  dark,  stern  looking  princess,  was  seated 
at  a  distaff  surrounded  by  her  maidens.  She  silently 
received  my  courteous  homage  to  her  presence ;  while 
Michal,  gentle  and  beautiful,  though  now  pale  and  anx 
ious  at  David's  departure  on  so  dangerous  an  expedition, 
met  me  with  friendly  cordiality.  She  expressed  her  re 
gret  that  I  was  to  leave  for  Egypt,  and  said  that  she 
hoped  that  I  should  return  this  way  with  the  fair  daughter 
of  its  king,  saying  she  had  heard  the  loveliness  of  the 
maidens  of  the  land  of  the  Nile  greatly  commended. 

While  she  was  speaking,  Adora,  the  superb  daughter 
of  Isrilid,  and  at  present  guest  of  the  king's  daughters, 
appeared.  She  took  my  hand  with  great  kindness,  and 
expressed  her  sorrow  that  I  was  about  to  go  away.  For 
a  moment  I  made  no  reply,  I  was  so  struck  with  her  ap 
pearance.  She  was  dressed  most  gorgeously  in  attire 
that  wonderfully  became  her  style  of  form  and  face. 
She  wore  a  scarlet  cap  broidered  with  gold,  confining  her 
raven  tresses.  The  shape  and  fashion  of  it  was  graceful 
and  elegant  beyond  description.  Her  veil  was  thrown 
partly  off  from  her  face,  revealing  features  of  the  most 
perfect  outline,  and  eyes,  before  the  splendor  and  glory  of 
which,  I  dropped  my  own.  A  luxuriance  of  beauty,  if 
1  may  so  express  myself,  enveloped  her.  Every  motion 
was  a  grace — every  look  a  dangerous  charm.  I  felt  too 
that  those  noble  eyes  looked  kindly  upon  nie,  and  that 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      277 

my  departure  lent  the  sadness  to  the  smile  with  which 
she  greeted  me. 

After  lingering  half  an  hour  in  the  society  of  these 
charming  Hebrews,  I  took  leave  of  them,  I  fear  not 
readily  to  forget  one  of  the  two,  my  dear  Belus. 

Having  taken  leave  of  the  brave  and  warlike  young 
Joab,  the  splendid  general  Abner,  and  others,  I  sought 
the  king  to  pay  to  his  majesty  my  parting  respects.  I 
found  him  at  his  new  palace  superintending  the  con 
struction  of  the  throne  room.  Seated  upon  the  jusl 
completed  throne-chair  of  ivory  inlaid  with  silver,  he  re 
ceived  me  with  stately  courtesy,  expressed  the  satisfaction 
he  had  received  by  my  visit  to  his  dominions,  wished  me 
a  pleasant  journey,  and  desired  me,  if  I  returned  through 
his  kingdom,  to  pay  my  respects  to  him  and  give  him 
the  news  from  the  court  of  Egypt ;  which  I  promised  to 
do.  With  dignified  hospitality,  he  accompanied  me  to 
the  door  of  the  palace,  and  I  there  took  a  second  leave 
of  this  extraordinary  man,  kissing  his  hand  and  wishing 
him  a  long  and  happy  reign.  He  replied  only  by  a  cold, 
strangely  sounding  laugh  and  turned  away,  his  iron- 
heel  ringing  as  he  crossed  the  paved  hall,  while  I  heard 
him  repeating  with  muttered,  fierce,  mocking  tones  my 
last  words  :  "  Long  and  happy  reign." 

Alas,  a  mad  king  !  Oh,  what  a  calamity  to  a  people, 
your  majesty  !  With  what  greater  chastisement  could 
the  gods  afflict  a  nation  ?  Prince  Jonathan  accompanied 
me  half  a  league  beyond  the  city  gate,  and  embracing,  we 
parted,  my  heart  bleeding  with  the  profoundest  pity  for 
the  noble  young  prince,  doomed  to  such  a  life  of  woe — 
to  end  with  disinheritance  from  his  rights  as  prince  royal 
of  Israel.  His  fine  frank  countenance  has  of  late  lost 


278  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

its  cheerfulness,  and  a  fixed  sorrow  seems  to  have  im 
pressed  itself  upon  his  princely  features.  What  will  the 
end  be  ? 

I  overtook,  after  two  hours'  galloping,  nay  caravan  as 
they  were  resting  for  a  space  by  a  brook  which  crossed 
the  highway.  At  the  close  of  the  day  we  reached  thi? 
well  of  Abraham  before  the  ancient  walls  of  Beersheba 
As  I  shall  to-morrow,  your  majesty,  enter  the  land  of  Idu- 
mea  which  lies  south  of  Judea,  I  shall  have  little  leisure 
for  using  my  pen  ;  as  it  is  a  dangerous  land  for  strangers 
to  traverse,  even  all  the  way  to  Egypt ;  and  I  shall  have 
to  be  on  the  alert  against  foes,  and  keep  up  a  strict  war 
discipline  in  my  camp.  At  this  time,  especially,  the  de 
feat  of  the  great  Philistine  army  has  disengaged  hordes 
of  Idumean  cavalry,  which  are  prowling  along  all  the 
borders,  and  hovering  over  the  roads  to  plunder  caravans. 
My  next  letter,  or  the  continuation  of  the  present,  may 
be  written  you  from  the  land  of  the  pyramids.  Until 
then,  your  majesty, 

Farewell. 
ARBACES. 

THE  events  connected  with  the  embassy  of  Prince  Arbaces 
to  the  court  of  the  Pharaohs  will  herewith  be  narrated  until 
he  again  resumes  his  pen  to  write,  in  person,  to  the  King  of 
Assyria. 

After  a  journey  of  eighteen  days,  varied  by  occasional  attacks 
from  the  bands  of  desert-warriors,  who  sought  booty  rather 
than  battle,  Arbaces  reached  the  capital  of  Egypt.  The  impos 
ing  character  of  his  retinue,  the  long  procession  of  camels  and 
wagons  laden  with  treasure,  the  splendid  appearance  of  his 
Assyrian  body-guard,  and  the  nature  of  the  mission  which  had 
brought  him  so  far,  created  no  little  interest  in  the  Egyptian  court 

He  was  received  by  Pharaoh  with  great  honor,  and  for  seve< 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      279 

ral  days,  banquets  and  fetes  were  given  in  his  lionor,  attended 
by  all  the  princes,  lords,  viceroys,  governors  of  Nonies,  and 
generals  of  armies,  while  the  most  brilliant  and  beautiful  ladies 
of  the  court  graced  the  festal  scenes  with  their  presence.  Above 
all  her  sex,  superior  in  loveliness  as  well  as  in  rank,  was  the 
charming  princess,  Zaila,  the  only  daughter  of  the  king. 

At  length  Prince  Arbaces  in  due  courtly  form  presented  the 
royal  letter  of  King  Belus  to  Pharaoh,  asking  the  hand  of  his 
fair  daughter.  The  king  required  seven  days  to  consider  the 
matter,  and  lay  the  business  before  his  supreme  council.  The 
princess,  in  the  meanwhile,  was  permitted  to  see  Arbaces,  and 
ask  him  a  thousand  and  one  questions  about  the  young  king 
who  had  sought  her  hand  in  marriage.  She  was  so  pleased 
with  the  answers  of  the  handsome  ambassador  and  he  plead  so 
eloquently  for  his  royal  master,  that,  unwittingly,  he  inspired 
the  beautiful  Egyptian  with  such  love  for  himself  that  when 
the  king,  her  father,  came  to  her  on  the  evening  of  the  seventh 
day  to  say  that  by  and  with  the  advice  of  his  ministers  he  had 
consented  to  the  matrimonial  alliance  with  Assyria  through  her 
marriage  with  its  king,  she  answered  him  that  she  was  very 
willing  to  marry  the  ambassador  whom  she  had  seen,  but  never 
the  king  she  had  not  seen ! 

Now  the  princess  was  an  only  child,  and  her  royal  father 
loved  her  as  the  apple  of  his  own  eyes.  He  had  never  denied 
her  the  indulgence  of  a  wish  ;  nay,  studied  daily  to  anticipate 
her  least  possible  desires,  and  had  even  proclaimed  only  a  few 
days  before  the  arrival  of  Arbaces,  that  he  would  confer  a  gold 
ring,  a  robe  of  state,  and  a  post  of  honor  on  whomsoever  would 
discover  in  the  princess  a  want  which  his  love  and  pride  had  not 
already  provided  for !  A  beggar,  at  length,  who  had  sat  for 
years  by  the  pedestal  of  the  statue  of  Osiris,  before  his  palace 
gate,  came  and  said  : — 

"  Live  forever,  0  king !  brother  of  the  sun  and  lord  of  the 
whole  earth.  Thou  hast  made  proclamation  that  whosoever 
shall  discover  any  thing  the  Princess  Zaila  yet  needeth  which 
thou  hast  not  thought  of  for  her,  thou  wilt  place  a  ring  of  gold 
upon  his  finger,  invest  him  with  a  robe  of  state,  and  elevate 
him  to  a  place  of  honor !  I,  0  son  of  Osiris,  have  come  hum- 


280  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

bly  to  claim  these  three  honors.     The  Princess  Zaila  is  in  want 
of  a  husband,  which  thou  hast  not  provided  for  her !" 

Upon  this,  the  king,  greatly  pleased  at  the  wit  of  the  beggar, 
acknowledged  that  he  was  in  the  right,  and  rewarded  him  with 
the  three  honors  according  to  his  royal  promise. 

When  the  princess  heard  of  the  affair,  she  blushed,  and  said, 
laughingly,  to  her  maidens  :  "  The  beggar  has  more  wisdom  than 
Pharaoh,  the  king !" 

This  speech  was  taken  to  the  ears  of  her  father,  who  pre 
sently  swore  by  the  head  of  Osiris,  that  he  would  marry  her  to 
the  first  prince  that  came  into  his  dominions ;  for,  by  the  laws 
of  Egypt,  she  could  not  marry  a  subject  of  the  crown  ! 

Now  only  a  week  elapsed  after  this  when  arrived  our  Assy 
rian  ambassador  with  his  proposition  from  the  king  of  Nineveh 
for  the  hand  of  the  lovely  princess  !  Her  father  was  so  long, 
however,  in  making  up  his  mind  among  his  venerable  counsel 
ors,  that  he  gave  the  lady  in  the  interval  an  opportunity,  as 
we  have  seen,  of  losing  her  heart  irrevocably  to  Arbaces. 
When,  therefore,  she  answered  her  royal  father  that  she  would 
marry  the  prince  ambassador,  he  looked  greatly  perplexed. 

"  Nay,"  said  she,  "  didst  thou  not  swear  by  Osiris,  dear 
father,  that  you  would  marry  me  to  the  first  prince  who  came 
into  thy  dominions !" 

"  But  he  came  as  a  messenger  from  his  powerful  king,"  an 
swered  Pharaoh.  "  When  the  royal  master  asks  thy  hand,  wilt 
thou  prefer  the  servant?" 

"  He  is  a  prince  in  his  own  land  !  said  not  the  King  Belus 
in  his  letter  so,  and  he  calleth  him  his  cousin !"  answered  the 
maiden.  "  I  cannot  think  of  marrying  a  person  I  never  saw  ! 
He  may  be  jealous,  blind,  ugly,  and  of  a  wicked  disposition ! 
No,  dear  father,  I  will  marry  the  noble-looking  Arbaces  !  He 
is  the  handsomest  prince  in  the  world !  Then  he  is  so  good 
of  heart !  He  plead  so  warmly  for  his  king  !  While  he  thought 
he  was  gradually  winning  me  for  his  master,  I  was  only  think 
ing  of  the  ambassador.  '  Surely/  I  said,  '  one  who  can  love 
and  defend  the  cause  of  his  king  so  well,  must  make  a  loving 
and  faithful  husband/  I  will  marry  him  instead  of  his  king 
were  Belus  as  splendid  as  Horus  and  beautiful  as  Isis !" 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      281 

Pharaoh  represented  to  his  willful  daughter  the  advantages 
of  an  alliance  with  Assyria,  that  eventually,  perhaps,  Egypt 
might  govern  both  nations,  as  Babylon  and  Nineveh  by  inter 
marriages  had  come  under  one  crown,  but  all  in  vain.  The 
maiden's  heart  had  gone  out  to  Arbaces,  and  at  length  the  king 
yielded  to  this  argument  advanced  by  her, 

"  Let  nay  hand,  0  my  father,  be  given  to  Prince  Arbaces ! 
You  have  no  son  !  At  your  death,  if  you  will  previously  adopt 
him,  he  will  succeed  you,  and  we  shall  reign  king  and  queen 
of  Egypt!  This  will  be  a  great  deal  pleasanter  than  being 
queen  of  Assyria  with  Belus  its  king !  Thus,  dear  father, 
you  can  keep  me  at  home,  (and  you  know  it  would  break  your 
heart  for  me  to  go  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  into  Assyria,  and 
perhaps  never  see  me  any  more,)  and  I  shall  be  happy,  and  you 
will  have  a  son-in-law  to  succed  you  instead  of  your  cruel  and 
envious  nephew,  Menesis,  who  is  only  waiting  for  your  crown  ; 
and,  dearest  of  fathers,"  she  continued,  seeing  he  was  fast  yield 
ing,  "  this  horrid  King  Belus  only  wishes  me  to  be  his  wife, 
hoping  when  you  are  no  more  to  claim  the  crown  of  Egypt  in 
right  of  his  wife  ;  for  he  must  know  how  the  deformed  and  cruel 
Menesis  is  feared  and  hated  of  the  Egyptians,  and  how  gladly 
would  they  exchange  his  yoke  for  that  of  the  husband  of  their 
princess." 

Pharaoh  resisted  no  longer.  The  princess  had  conquered. 
She  threw  her  white  arms  about  his  neck,  and  thanked  him  in 
the  most  affectionate  and  charming  manner,  so  that  when  he 
left  her  he  was  ready  to  take  the  head  off  of  Arbaces  if  he 
should  refuse  to  marry  his  daughter ! 

The  young  ambassador  was  not  immediately  informed  of  the 
honor  which  was  in  store  for  him.  For  two  months  the  princess 
almost  daily  gave  him  audience,  or  invited  him  to  escort  her 
abroad,  and  sought  by  every  art  and  device  of  maiden  archery 
to  pierce  his  heart.  To  the  last  she  saw  with  mingled  grief 
and  angry  pride  that  he  plead  only  for  his  king,  that  all  her 
looks,  and  attentions,  and  smiles  of  pleasure  and  of  love  he  unsel 
fishly  interpreted  in  favor  of  his  master.  How  little  the  faith 
ful  and  ingenuous  young  ambassador  suspected  that  the  warmth 
and  glow  of  feeling  his  words  and  presence  ever  enkindled 


282  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

were  wholly  on  bis  own  account,  may  be  seen  from  the  follow 
ing  extract  of  a  letter  to  King  Belus,  written  two  months  and 
a  half  after  his  arrival  in  Egypt : — 

COURT  OP  PHARAOH,  CITY  OF  MEMPHIS. 

This  unlooked-for  and  unusual  delay,  your  majesty, 
in  accepting  thy  royal  nuptial  gifts,  and  in  giving  me  a 
final  answer,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  comprehend,  as  I  am  satis 
fied  by  daily  audience  with  this  charming  princess  that 
she  is  deeply  interested  in  you.  All  my  ardent  descrip 
tions  of  your  person,  and  eulogiums  upon  your  heart  and 
character,  have  captivated  her  imagination  ;  and  I  never 
discourse  of  you  that  her  eyes  do  not  beam  with  the 
splendors  of  the  torch  of  love,  while  her  sighs  and  vir 
gin  emotion  betray  the  impassioned  ardor  of  her  attach 
ment  to  your  majesty.  What  a  prize  shall  I  have  the 
honor  of  presenting  to  you,  0  Belus  !  Such  personal 
beauty  as  she  possesses  is  seldom  met  with !  Besides, 
she  is  endowed  with  the  most  delicate  wit,  mirth,  intelli 
gence,  and  wonderful  grace  of  speech  and  manner.  No 
woman  I  have  seen,  save,  with  your  majesty's  permission, 
Adora  of  Isrilid,  can  compare  with  her  in  that  nameless 
fascination  which  so  often  captivates  and  bewilders  the 
strongest  masculine  minds. 

So  far  as  the  grace  of  courtly  forms  wTill  permit,  I 
have  urged  the  king  to  name  the  day  wThen,  as  your  ma 
jesty's  proxy,  I  shall  have  the  honor  to  receive  the  fair 
Zaila's  hand ;  but  Pharaoh  hitherto  has  always  referred 
me,  with  a  smile,  to  the  princess  !  I  have  not  been  rude 
or  bold  enough  yet  to  press  her,  in  so  delicate  a  matter, 
for  her  answer,  but  unless  in  a  few  days  I  receive  some 
definite  response  to  your  majesty's  suit,  I  shall  firmly 
require  a  decision  on  the  part  of  the  king.  The  four 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      283 

months  I  intended  to  be  absent  from  Assyria  are  rapidly 
expiring  in  my  delay  here.  In  the  meanwhile,  I  have 
been  royally  entertained.  Pharaoh  every  day  distin 
guishes  me  by  some  new  honor !  He  has  had  chariot- 
races,  manoeuvres  of  his  Nile  fleet,  processions  and  feasts, 
reviews  of  his  armies,  and  gorgeous  entertainments  for 
me ;  and  no  court  in  the  world  can  exceed  in  magnificence 
these  exhibitions.  Your  majesty,  in  person,  could  not 
be  received  and  entertained  with  more  kingly  attentions 
than  your  humble  ambassador.  Every  thing,  therefore, 
promises  a  favorable  issue,  if  not  a  speedy  one,  to  my 
important  mission  ! 

I  will,  in  the  interim,  here  give,  your  majesty,  an  ex 
tract  from  a  letter  which  reached  me  yesterday,  by  a 
caravan  from  Syria  which  passed  through  Judea  on  its 
way  hither.  It  is  written  by  the  amiable  and  excellent 
Prince  Jonathan,  who,  after  expressing  a  doubt  whether 
his  epistle  will  find  me  in  Egypt,  and  wishing  the  hap 
piest  success  to  my  embassy,  goes  on  to  say  as  follows  : — 

"  Your  absence,  dear  Arbaces,  has  been  deeply  felt  by 
me,  and  by  all  your  friends.  Y^ou  remained  with  us  long 
enough  to  show  me  how  necessary  your  society  and  friend 
ship  are  to  my  happiness.  My  sister,  Michal,  has  you  in 
kindly  remembrance,  and  the  elegant  Adora,  now  returned 
to  her  father's  house  in  Jericho,  I  am  sure,  will  not  soon 
forget  you.  My  dear  unhappy  father  has  spoken  of  you 
but  once.  Shall  I,  dear  friend,  without  being  thought 
to  be  unfilial,  tell  you  in  what  manner?  But  to  sho^v 
you  how  his  mind  still  is,  I  will  repeat  his  words.  He 
said : — 

"  *  He  has  gone  to  Pharaoh.  He  will  tell  the  proud 
Egyptian  what  a  mad,  God-accursed  king  he  has  left  in 


284  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

Judea,  with  a  war  upon  his  hand,  and  a  shepherd  strip 
ling  putting  him  to  open  shame  and  public  disgrace  by  his 
deeds  of  valor.  He  will  hint  to  Pharaoh  that  my  king 
dom  will  now  fall  an  easy  prey  to  the  Egyptian  armies  ! 
By  the  gods  of  Moab  !  had  I  thought  of  all  this,  the 
Assyrian  should  not  have  left  my  borders,  hoof  nor 
sandal !' 

"  Thus  you  see,  dear  Arbaces,  my  father's  malady 
changes  not !  Since  the  death  of  Goliath  he  is  more 
gloomy  in  his  mind,  more  dangerous  to  others  than  ever  ! 
The  evil  spirit,  if  such  it  be,  has  settled  upon  his  soul 
forever.  There  is  now  no  gleam  of  sunshine,  no  kind 
word,  no  pleasant  look,  though  it  were  but  for  a  passing 
moment !  Do  I  speak  of  him  too  plainly  ?  But  it  is 
that  I  feel  the  need  of,  and  know  that  I  shall  have,  your 
kind  sympathy ! 

"  You  will  be  interested  to  hear  of  the  result  of  my 
beloved  and  brave  David's  foray  into  the  fastnesses  of 
the  Philistine  country.  On  the  evening  of  the  second 
day  he  drew  near  the  gates  of  Ekron,  having  concealed 
his  one  hundred  men-at-arms  in  a  wood,  and  being  chal 
lenged  from  the  walls,  he  answered  that  he  came  after 
one  hundred  heads  of  the  Philistines !  By  the  captain 
of  the  guard  stood  Malic,  the  armor-bearer  of  Goliath, 
who  at  once  knew  David,  and  hastened  to  the  lord  of  the 
city,  and  told  him,  <  David,  the  slinger  and  champion  who 
slew  my  master,  standeth  over  against  the  gate  and  chal- 
lengeth  all  the  garrison  !' 

"  When  the  governor  looked  from  his  battlements, 
and  saw  only  a  young  man  in  armor  standing  alone,  he 
said  with  contempt, 

" l  Is  it  by  such  a  stripling  the  lord  of  Gath  was  over* 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      285 

thrown  ?  I  will  go  down  and  take  his  pretty  head  and 
hang  it  above  my  gate.' 

"  The  tall  Philistine,  lord  then  issued  from  his  portal, 
and  advanced  sword  in  hand  to  slay  David,  when  he  dis 
charged  a  spear,  and  transfixed  his  heart,  so  that  he  fell 
dead.  Thereupon  David  ran  and  smote  off  his  head, 
and  lifting  it  up  as  a  signal,  his  one  hundred  men  ap 
peared,  and  followed  him  sword  in  hand  into  the  gate 
which  the  Philistine  lord  had  left  wide  open,  with  the 
portcullis  up,  and  the  drawbridge  down.  Taken  by 
surprise  at  the  death  of  their  chief  captain,  and  at  the 
sudden  rushing  in  of  the  Hebrews,  the  soldiers  which 
kept  the  gate  fled.  David  and  his  hundred  men  pursued 
them  from  street  to  street,  slaying  and  beheading  all 
who  opposed  them  ;  until  each  man  in  his  company  held 
two  Philistine  heads  in  his  hand.  Not  until  then  did 
David  give  the  word  to  stop  the  battle,  when  he  left  the 
city  without  a  wound  either  on  his  own  body,  or  on  those 
of  his  followers.  The  next  evening  he  re-appeared  with 
his  trophies  before  Hebron,  and  entering  the  port  of  the 
city,  the  gory  band  presented  itself  before  Saul  with 
David  at  their  head ;  and  as  each  man  laid  his  double 
burden  at  the  king's  door,  the  son  of  Jesse  said, 

"  *  Behold,  0  king,  twice  the  tale  of  the  price  of  thy 
daughter's  hand !  I  now  claim  the  maiden  as  my  wife  !' 

"  The  brow  of  my  father  grew  black  !  Alas,  I  fear  he 
had  hoped  the  Philistines  would  that  day  have  had  the 
ycung  hero's  head  spiked  above  their  highest  gate !  He 
heard,  too,  the  murmurs  of  applause  from  the  people. 
He  felt  all  this  was  against  him.  But  he  had  too  much 
kingly  honor,  with  all  his  hatred  of  David,  to  deny  his 
given  word !  for  with  all  my  father's  strange  conduct, 


286  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

he  has  never  lost  a  certain  native  nobility  of  soul,  which 
in  earlier  years  made  him  worthy  to  be  the  king  of  a 
brave  and  free  people.  He  said  to  David,  'Follow  me!' 

"Leading  him  into  the  house,  and  calling  for  Michal, 
who  had  just  heard  of  David's  success,  and  was  flying 
half-timidly,  half-joy  fully,  to  hide  herself  in  her  own 
chamber,  he  took  her  by  the  hand,  and  said  to  David 
as  he  placed  it  in  his, 

" i  She  is  thy  wife !  Thou  hast  valiantly  won  her ! 
Let  not  men  say  Saul  hath  denied  his  oath !' 

"A  few  days  afterwards  the  nuptials  were  celebrated, 
not  with  any  festivities,  but  quietly.  The  new  palace 
had  been  the  day  before  taken  possession  of  by  the  king 
and  his  whole  household,  and  David  was  given  apart 
ments  therein ;  and  the  next  day  receiving  from  my 
father  a  command  of  two  thousand  men,  became  a  resi 
dent  of  Hebron,  and  daily  we  were  happy  in  each  other's 
society. 

"  The  week  following  the  marriage  of  David,  the  Philis 
tines  grew  brave  enough  to  invade  the  land  with  a  force 
of  four  thousand  men,  and  even  menaced  Bethlehem. 
They  were  emboldened  to  this  because  they  were  aware 
our  Hebrew  laws  enjoin  that  a  newly  married  man  be 
not  sent  to  the  wars  for  one  year  after  his  marriage. 
The  prowess  of  David  alone  had,  without  question,  hith 
erto  kept  them  back.  The  twentieth  day  after  his  nup 
tials,  news  came  that  a  company  of  the  Philistines  had 
carried  off  the  flock  of  Jesse  his  father,  and  slain  one  of 
his  brothers. 

"' Hearest  thou  this  war  news?'  cried  the  king  in  a 
tone,  I  fear,  of  exultation,  entering  David's  room,  where 
he  sat  singing  a  sweet  hymn  of  his  own  composition,  to 


THE  REBELLION"  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      237 

bis  young  wife  and  myself:  *  But  what  is  it  to  tliee,  that 
art  tied  to  thy  wife's  distaff  for  a  twelvemonth  ?  Why 
should  I  talk  to  a  bridegroom  of  arms  and  war  ?  Play 
thy  harp,  hoy,  and  let  the  men  of  Ekron  in  revenge, 
burn  thy  father's  house,  slay  thy  brother,  and  bear  off 
his  flocks  as  spoil !' 

'"What  is  it  thou  sayest,  0  king?'  cried  David,  let 
ting  his  harp  fall,  and  starting  to  his  feet. 

"'What  I  have  said!'  answered  my  father  with  a  cold 
tone  of  voice ;  '  but  it  concerns  not  thee !  Go  on  with 
thy  harping  and  psaltering,  and  stay  at  home  and  please 
thy  young  wife !' 

"That  very  hour  David  tore  himself  from  the  arms  of 
his  bride,  and  at  the  head  of  his  two  thousand  men  pur 
sued  the  Philistines,  who  were  leisurely  retiring  with 
their  booty.  He  came  up  with  them,  and  attacked  them 
with  terrible  vengeance,  slew  nearly  every  man  of  the 
four  thousand  men,  recovered  his  flocks,  and  retook  all 
their  captives  and  spoil,  with  which,  on  the  third  day,  he 
returned  to  Bethlehem,  the  inhabitants  of  which  received 
him  with  open  arms  and  unbounded  joy.  All  this,  my 
dear  Arbaces,  went  against  my  poor  father,  arid  since 
the  news  of  the  victory,  and  these  fresh  laurels  won  by 
the  young  bridegroom,  he  has  shut  himself  in  his  inner 
chamber,  and  allows  no  one  but  Doeg  his  Edomite 
armor-bearer,  a  wily  and  unprincipled  sycophant  to  all 
the  king's  humors,  to  come  into  his  presence. 

"  Thus  affairs  remain,  my  dear  Arbaces.  If  I  have 
been  too  open  and  undisguised  in  my  expressions  about 
my  royal  father,  attribute  it  not  to  want  of  veneration 
for  him  who  gave  me  being,  and  who  is  the  anointed  of 
God,  but  to  perfect  confidence  in  your  sympathy,  and  i> 


288  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID  ;  OR, 

a  feeling  of  relief  in  being  able  to  speak  of  my  sorrows 
to  one  who  can  appreciate  my  position,  administer  to  me 
wise  counsel,  and  strengthen  my  heart  with  his  consola 
tions. 

"  By  a  caravan  from  Damascus,  that  is  to-night  en 
camped  in  the  plain  of  Mamre,  and  leaves  in  a  few  days, 
I  shall  send  this  epistle.  Michal,  my  sister,  desires  to 
be  remembered  to  Prince  Arbaces,  whom  she  greatly 
esteems  as  the  friend  of  David  and  Jonathan,  as  well  as 
for  his  own  virtues.  I  will  not  seal  up  this  letter  until 
the  day  the  caravan  leaves,  as  I  may  desire  to  add  a  few 
lines  more,  should  anything  of  sufficient  interest  to  nar 
rate  to  you,  transpire." 

Thus  far,  0  Belus,  continued  Arbaces,  the  letter 
of  the  Hebrew  prince,  when  another  leaf  of  parchment 
folded  within  it  drew  my  attention.  It  was  closely 
written  over  in  a  bold,  handsome  script,  which  I  re 
cognized  instantly  to  be  the  writing  of  Heleph,  the  brave 
and  intelligent  armor-bearer  of  the  prince.  I  copy  here, 
your  majesty,  what  was  recorded  therein  by  his  ready 
pen ;  for  being  the  son  of  a  Levite  mother,  he  had,  be 
fore  taking  up  the  profession  of  arms,  assisted  his  mater 
nal  uncle  in  transcribing  the  sacred  records  of  his  peo 
ple.  This  Heleph  I  have  before  spoken  of,  in  my  ac 
count  of  the  bold  attack  on  the  Philistine  garrison.  He 
is  much  older  than  his  young  lord,  and  holds,  as  it  were, 
a  paternal  protection  over  him,  being  in  battle  his  de 
fender,  in  peace  his  friend,  and  at  all  times  his  sagacious 
counselor.  His  parchment  begins  thus  : 

"  To  my  lord,  Arbaces,  Prince  of  Nineveh,  Heleph 
the  armor-bearer : 

"  My  lord  will  pardon  his  servant  for  his  boldness  in 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  259 

presuming  to  take  up  his  pen  to  write  to  my  lord ;  but 
my  dear  master  Jonathan,  after  having  written  the 
foregoing  epistle,  and  before  he  could  seal  it  up,  was 
suddenly  called  from  Hebron.  As  he  left,  he  gave  into 
my  hands  his  letter  to  you,  saying  that  I  might  add  in  it 
that  he  had  not  time  to  seal  it  with  his  own  signet,  and 
affix  his  superscription,  and  commanded  me  to  bind  it 
up  and  put  his  seal  thereto,  and  give  it  in  charge  to  the 
chief  captain  of  the  Syrian  caravan  for  you.  My  lord 
will  therefore  understand  why  the  prince,  my  master's 
name  is  wanting  over  the  seal,  albeit  thou  didst  behold 
it  at  the  commencement  of  the  epistle.  Will  my  lord 
now  pardon  me,  if  his  servant  makes  known  to  him  the 
events  which,  since  the  Prince  Jonathan  terminated  his 
letter,  have  taken  place,  and  which  have  caused  him  to 
leave  the  city  so  suddenly  ?  for  I  know  how  deep  is  the 
interest  felt  by  my  lord  of  Ashur  in  all  that  concerns  my 
dear  master  and  his  friend,  the  valiant  David,  son-in-law 
to  the  king. 

"  Three  days  ago,  on  the  day  my  master  ended  his 
letter,  the  king  sent  for  him  to  appear  presently  before 
him.  For  several  days  my  lord,  the  king,  had  kept  his 
apartment,  and  by  the  windows  which  looked  towards 
the  sepulchres  of  Machpelah,  he  would  stand  for  hours 
gloomily  gazing  upon  the  tombs,  and  speaking  to  no 
man  but  the  vile  Doeg,  his  armor-bearer ;  who,  by  ma 
liciously  bearing  every  idle  and  wicked  tale  to  his  ears, 
greatly  increases  his  malady,  and  arms  him  more  and 
more  bitterly  against  those  about  him.  It  was  Doeg  who 
told  him  what  Jonathan  and  all  others  would  have  had 
kept  from  him,  that  is,  the  honors  that  were  paid  David 
a,t  Bethlehem.  When  my  noble  young  master  entered 
1!) 


290  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

the  king's  presence,  modestly  and  humbly,  the  king,  hia 
father,  said  to  him,  while  I  stood  by,  for  I  was  afraid  to 
trust  my  lord  in  the  presence  of  his  father  alone,  know 
ing  how  he  felt  so  sorely  displeased  at  him  because  he 
loved  David, 

"  'Who  is  this  with  thee  ?  For  my  sight  of  late  sorely 
faileth  me  !' 

"'It  is  Heleph,  my  faithful  armor-bearer,'  answered 
my  master. 

"'Faithful!'  repeated  the  king  angrily,  striking  the 
javelin  he  held  in  his  hand  against  the  stone  floor ;  for 
when  he  received  us,  he  was  walking  to  and  fro  in  the 
paved  corridor  that  opens  from  his  private  chamber  into 
his  gardens.  Doeg  the  Edomite  was  set  down  not  far 
off  upon  a  bench,  burnishing  his  helmet,  as  indifferently 
as  if  he  were  not  in  the  presence  of  his  king.  '  Who  is 
faithful?  Even  a  man's  own  children  are  traitors — who 
shall  call  a  servant  faithful?  I  trust  no  man,  but' — and 
here  he  glanced  towards  the  gigantic  Edomite — '  Doeg  ! 
He  would  do  my  bidding  were  I  to  command  him  to  drag 
the  High  Priest  Ahimelech  from  the  horns  of  the  high 
altar,  and  slay  him  at  its  base !  Wouldst  not,  man  ?' 

" 4  Thou  hast  only  to  try  me,  by  giving  the  command, 
0  king,'  answered  the  armor-bearer  with  a  dark  smile; 
not  even  looking  up  from  his  pastime. 

"' Where  is  thy  bosom  friend  and  brother-in-law?' 
now  demanded  the  king  of  Jonathan.  4  He  putteth  airs 
on  himself  in  receiving  honors  in  my  own  dominions.  I 
dare  to  say  these  base  lords  of  Bethlehem  sang  the  old 
song  to  him :  "  Saul  has  slain  his  thousands,  and  David 
his  tens  of  thousands."  This  young  shepherd,  who  has 
come  into  alliance  with  my  royal  house,  will  next  step 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      291 

into  my  throne.  This  son  of  Jesse  is  a  traitor  !  lie 
shall  die  !  I  have  sworn  it  by  the  oath  of  God  !  I  have 
sent  for  thec  to  seize  him  and  slay  him  for  me !  Thy 
obedience  will  prove  whether  thou  lovest  him  or  me  the 
more  !  Take  thy  armor-bearer  and  go  forth  and  slay 
him,  though  he  were  in  his  bed  asleep  by  the  side  of  his 
bride,  my  daughter  !' 

"  The  prince  at  first  made  no  reply.  He  looked  into 
his  father's  fierce  eyes,  and  plainly  saw  that  they  meant 
certain  death  to  his  friend.  At  length  he  said : 

"  '  Let  the  king  remember  justice  and  clemency,  and 
not  meditate  this  great  sin  against  David  who  hath  not 
sinned  against  thee  ;  but  whose  works  have  ever  been  for 
the  king's  good,  and  the  glory  of  his  kingdom.' 

"  '  Plead,  not  for  him  !'  answered  Saul  in  a  voice  of 
rage.  '  Doeg  my  armor-bearer  will  obey  me;  but  I  have 
sworn  thy  hand  shall  kill  thy  friend  as  proof  thou  lovest 
me  more  than  him.  By  one  or  the  other  he  dieth  ere 
to-morrow's  sun.' 

"  The  prince  sorrowfully  departed  from  the  king's  pre 
sence  and  hastened  to  his  friend,  whom  he  found  dis 
coursing  with  Abiathar  the  son  of  the  acting  High  Priest 
of  Nob,  Ahimelech,  who  had  come  to  be  present  at  the 
feast  of  the  New  Moon,  and  offer  sacrifice  for  the  king 
and  royal  household  before  the  feast.  By  the  advice 
of  Jonathan,  David  immediately  went  out  of  the  city, 
and  remained  concealed  in  the  house  of  a  friend  until  he 
should  hear  from  the  prince,  who  resolved  not  to  cease 
pleading  for  the  life  of  David  with  his  father.  The  zeal, 
courage,  and  eloquence  of  his  appeals  for  his  friend 
softened  the  king,  and  before  Jonathan  left  him,  Saul 
revoked  the  order  which  he  had  given  to  Doeg  and  others 


292  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

to  find  and  slay  David,  and  made  an  oath  to  the  prince 
in  these  solemn  words  :  'As  the  Lord  liveth  he  shall  not 
be  slain  !' 

"  The  prince  with  great  joy  hastened  first  to  his  sister, 
David's  young  bride,  and  made  known  to  her  his  unex 
pected  success,  filling  her  heart  with  joy,  and  then  went 
forth  to  where  his  friend  waited  to  hear  from  him,  and 
brought  him  back  to  the  city,  and  openly  before  Doeg 
and  others  conducted  him  into  the  presence  of  the  king, 
who  received  him  with  words  of  favor  and  bade  him,  as 
heretofore,  go  in  and  out  before  him  without  fear. 

"  The  morning  after  this  happy  reconciliation,  rumor 
came  to  the  gates  that  three  thousand  Philistines  had 
marched  out  of  their  country,  and  were  laying  siege 
to  the  king's  granaries  at  Gedor.  David,  desirous  of 
manifesting  his  gratitude  to  the  king,  at  once  marched 
out  to  war  with  the  two  thousand  men  over  which  he  was 
captain ;  and  this  morning,  news  has  reached  us  that  he 
has  overthrown  them,  and  is  driving  them  back  to  their 
own  land  with  great  slaughter. 

"  Jonathan  accompanied  David  in  this  expedition,  my 
lord  Arbaces,  and  it  was  at  his  departure  he  entrusted 
to  me  his  letter  to  seal  and  send  to  your  highness." 

"  SlX    DAYS    AFTER   THE    ABOVE    WRITING. 

"My  lord  Arbaces  is  hereby  informed  that  the  sickness 
of  the  captain  of  the  caravan  has  detained  it  a  week 
longer,  and  I  have,  therefore,  time  to  add  that  the  con 
quering  son  of  Jesse  returned  four  days  ago  from  the  war 
against  his  foes  ;  but,  in  order  not  to  awaken  the  king's 
jealousy,  he  came  privately  into  the  city  and  sought  his 
house.  The  same  night  Saul  sent  for  him  to  play  a 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      293 

hymn  of  victory  before  him.  The  instant,  my  lord,  I 
entered,  for  I  followed  him,  I  perceived  by  the  peculiar 
expression  in  the  king's  eyes  that  the  evil  spirit  from 
the  Lord  was  upon  him.  David  accompanied  himself 
upon  the  harp,  and  thus  sang  before  him  : 

*  '  0  give  thanks  unto  the  God  of  gods  : 

For  his  mercy  endureth  forever: 
0  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  of  lords : 

For  his  mercy  endureth  forever : 
To  him  who  smote  great  kings : 

For  his  mercy  endureth  forever: 
To  him  who  slayeth  our  enemies : 

For  his  mercy  endureth  forever/ 

"  *  Then  let  the  mercy  of  the  God  of  gods  save  thee, 
thou  thorn  in  my  side — shadow  upon  my  path !'  shouted 
the  king  ;  and,  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  he  launched 
a  spear  from  his  hand.  It  shivered  in  the  wall,  and 
David  fled  the  presence,  followed  by  the  indignant  Jona 
than.  In  a  moment,  the  voice  of  the  kin£  was  roarin^ 

o  o 

through  the  palace,  calling  on  his  guards  to  pursue  and 
slay  David. 

"A  dart  sent  after  him  by  Doeg  was  caught  upon  my 
shield,  and  I  covered  the  escape  of  the  noble  young  man  not 
without  great  difficulty.  The  king  despatched  swift  mes 
sengers  to  the  city  gates  to  detain  him,  and  forbade  any 
one  harboring  him  in  all  the  city  on  pain  of  death.  Jona 
than  was  familiar  with  the  avenues  of  the  new  palace,  and 
by  crossing  the  terrace  and  descending  to  the  garden,  he 
succeeded  in  gaining  a  secret  place  for  David,  where  we 
remained  hidden  until  the  king  had  searched  his  house : 
after  which  we  secretly  went  thither  and  left  him  in  tem 
porary  safety.  Thence  the  prince  went  and  prepared 


294  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

fleet  horses  outside  of  the  walls,  and  that  night  Michal 
let  David  through  the  window  upon  the  wall  to  the  moat 
beneath.  There  Jonathan  met,  and  silently  embracing 
him,  they  rode  together  across  the  plain  of  Mamre, 
when  the  two  friends  parting,  one  proceeded  on  to  his 
venerable  teacher  and  friend,  Samuel  the  Seer,  for  pro 
tection  and  counsel,  while  the  other  hastened  back  to  the 
city  before  he  should  be  missed  by  the  king :  who,  find 
ing  that  he  could  not  accomplish  David's  death  by  craft, 
hath  thrown  off  all  dissimulation  and  openly  and  publicly 
commands  his  son  and  his  whole  court  to  destroy  him  as 
a  traitor  to  his  throne ;  substituting  for  the  veil  of  pri 
vate  murder  the  cloak  of  a  public  execution.  Whether 
he  swore  deceitfully,  my  lord  Arbaces,  when  he  made  oath 
not  to  slay  David,  or  whether  in  his  madness  he  held  no 
responsibility  for  his  words  and  acts,  is  not  clear.  The 
more  services  the  noble  youth  did  his  country,  so  much 
the  more  did  King  Saul's  envy  and  hatred  increase  against 
him. 

"  I  had  remained  in  the  city  to  assist  my  master  to  re 
turn  into  the  palace  by  the  window  from  which  his  friend 
had  been  let  down.  It  was  now  midnight !  Jonathan, 
after  gently  comforting  his  weeping  sister,  and  assuring 
her  that  God  would  protect  her  husband,  and  that  Sa 
muel,  the  prophet,  would  gladly  give  him  shelter,  took 
his  departure  from  her  chamber.  We  had  not  been  many 
minutes  gone  away,  when  Saul,  who  believed  David  to  be 
in  the  city,  and  concealed  by  his  wife,  suddenly  sent  an 
officer  with  a  guard  to  surround  the  wing  of"  the  palace 
where  she  abode  in  order  to  surprise  him.  Michal,  to 
gain  time  for  her  husband's  flight,  did  not  deny  but  that 
he  was  there.  Before  admitting  the  king's  captain  she 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      295 

placed  on  the  couch  David's  cuirass,  and  shirt-of-mail, 
and  apparel  arrayed  like  the  image  of  a  person,  placed 
a  pillow  to  elevate  it  at  the  head,  and  spread  over  the 
the  whole  a  coverlid,  so  that  it  had  the  appearance  of  a 
man  asleep  in  bed,  with  his  head  and  face  covered. 

" '  See,'  said  she,  'is  he  not  sick  ?  Let  him  die  quietly  in 
his  Led  !  Tell  this  to  the  king  and  see  if  he  will  do  more  !' 

"  But  the  king,  on  hearing  it,  cried  in  a  rage  : — 

"'He  feigns  sickness!  But  ill  or  well,  were  I  sure,  if 
left  alono,  he  would  die  before  sunrise,  I  would  not  spare 
my  vengeance  !  Go  bring  him  to  me,  bed  and  all,  that 
I  may  slay  him  with  my  javelin  !' 

"  I)oeg  hastened  with  the  captain  and  men-at-arms  to 
obey  the  king,  and  when  they  had  reached  the  chamber 
Michal  had  hid  herself;  but  Doeg  carefully  approached  the 
couch,  his  sword  held  in  hand,  (for  he  feared  the  valiant 
youth  although  sick  and  in  bed,)  and  with  a  cry  of  savage 
joy  threw  back  the  coverlid  !  Lo,  instead  of  beholding 
the  brave  son  of  Jesse,  they  were  mocked  by  the  sight 
of  the  image  with  which  the  king's  daughter  had  deceived 
them.  Without  doubt  the  young  and  devoted  wife  would 
have  been  slain  by  the  wrathful  Edomite  on  the  spot,  had 
she  been  exposed  to  his  fury.  When  he  made  this  dis 
covery,  Saul  was  not  long  kept  ignorant  of  the  decep 
tion.  Kindling  with  anger  he  hastened  to  her  room,  and 
when  he  beheld  the  cheat  which  her  love  had  conceived 
to  aid  her  husband's  escape,  he  said  to  her : — 

" '  0  woman,  subtle  daughter  of  a  rebellious  wife ! 
Thou  hast  all  thy  mother's  craft  and  guile  in  thy  heart ! 
Why  hast  thou  deceived  me  thus!  I  had  hoped  the  wife 
would  have  forgotten  herself  in  the  daughter  when  hei 
husband  proves  mine  enemy  !' 


296          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

" '  He  is  not  thine  enemy,  0  king,'  she  answered,  firmly. 
1  He  never  offended  thee !  He  has  always  studied  to 
please  thee  !  Thou  didst  once  applaud  him  !  Thou  didst 
honor  him  greatly  when  he  slew  Goliath  and  delivered 
thereby  thy  whole  realm  out  of  the  hand  of  thine  enemies !' 

"  At  this  moment  my  lord,  Jonathan,  who  had  heard 
what  was  taking  place,  came  in  and  said : — 

" ;  My  sister  speaks  truly,  0  my  father  !  What  un 
just  action  canst  thou  charge  against  David,  son  of  Jesse, 
that  thou  thus  pursuest  him  to  the  death  like  a  hunted 
deer — a  man  who  hath  delivered  our  nation  from  the  de 
rision  and  reproach  which,  for  forty  days,  they  endured 
from  the  champion  of  Gath,  and  who  alone  had  courage 
enough  to  meet  and  destroy  him  ?  And  after  that,  in 
order  to  receive  my  sister  in  marriage,  although  justly 
his  reward  for  his  valor,  at  thy  command  he  brought 
twice  one  hundred  heads  of  the  Philistines  and  laid  them 
at  thy  feet !  a  man  who  has  ever  been  courteous,  hum 
ble,  and  prudent  before  thee,  and  ever  ready  to  go  forth 
to  meet  the  enemy  which  he  never  has  once  failed  to 
overthrow  !  Wilt  thou  make  a  widow  of  this  thy  daugh 
ter,  just  made  a  bride  by  thine  own  gift  of  her  hand  to 
the  noble  hero  of  God  whom  thou  wouldst  now  slay  ? 
Do  not  mischief  to  one  who  has  done  us  the  greatest 
kindness.  Show,  0  king,  a  more  considerate,  generous, 
and  merciful  disposition  towards  him.  Thinkest  thou 
his  brave  but  yet  tender  heart  does  not  feel  thy  displea 
sure?  What  has  he  not  done  for  thee,  0  my  father? 
When  the  spirit  of  evil  and  malicious  demons  have  seized 
upon  thee,  his  wonderful  skill  in  music  drove  them  from 
thee,  and  restored  peace  and  repose  to  thy  torn  and 
stormy  soul !' 


THE  REBELLION  OE  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      297 

"  Saul  listened  unmoved  by  this  address,  which,  or 
similar  ones,  had  aforetime  moved  him  to  swear  David 
should  not  be  slain.  But  now  he  gave  no  ear  to  his  son. 
He  answered  him  not  by  look  or  word,  but  turning  to  his 
daughter  said : — 

"  '  Thou  art  my  enemy,  0  woman  !  I  believed  when  I 
gave  thee  to  him  thou  wouldst  have  been  a  snare  to  him  !' 

"'I  deceived  thee,  therefore,  to  give  him  time  to  fly 
far  from  danger,'  she  answered.  'I  knew  and  told  him 
if  the  sun  when  it  rises  should  find  him  in  Hebron,  it 
will  be  the  last  time  he  would  see  it  rise ;  for,'  said  I, 
'  if  my  father  find  thee  here,  thou  art  a  dead  man  !  So 
I  aided  his  escape,  as  became  a  wife,  and  then  prayed 
God  to  lengthen  the  night  for  his  sake  !' 

"'  Thou  deservest  also  to  die  !'  said  the  king. 

" '  Nay,  forgive  me,  my  father  !'  she  cried,  with  touch 
ing  earnestness.  '  I  cannot  believe  thou  wouldst  rather 
have  thy  once  dearly  loved  daughter,  hardly  a  month 
married,  widowed,  than  that  thy  son-in-law  should  escape 
death  !' 

"'Go!  Thou  hast  thy  life,'  he  gloomily  answered, 
and  left  her  to  return  to  his  own  chamber. 

"By  sunrise  the  morning  after  his  escape,  the  persecuted 
yet  innocent  fugitive  was  safe  in  Ramah,  the  ancient  abode 
of  the  Judges,  where  Samuel  dwelt.  The  prophet,  being 
early  walking  by  the  walls,  met  him  near  the  gate  of 
the  city,  and  received  him  with  such  warmth  of  affection 
and  pride,  that  David  felt  he  had  still  a  powerful  friend 
in  the  '  Friend  of  God,'  and  he  was  thereby  strengthened 
in  heart  and  spirit.  "Without  reserve  he  told  Samuel  all 
that  Saul  had  done,  the  snares  he  had  craftily  laid  for 
his  destruction,  and  his  frequent  attempts  in  person  to 


298          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

slay  him,  while  he  was  unarmed  playing  before  him  upon 
the  harp. 

"  When  the  venerable  Seer  had  heard  his  touching 
narrative,  he  embraced  his  young  disciple,  and  assured  him 
of  his  protection.  Samuel  then  rose  up,  entered  the 
gate  of  the  city,  and  went  with  him  to  the  old  palace  of 
Naioth  which  is  in  Ramah,  the  place  in  which  the  pro 
phet  dwelt,  and  where  he  oversees  the  School  of  the  Pro 
phets.  From  thence  David,  by  one  of  the  youthful 
prophets,  Nathan,  sent  secretly  to  Michal  news  of  his 
safety.  The  king  also  heard  the  same  evening  that  his 
son-in-law  had  escaped  to  Ramah,  and  that  Samuel  had 
sheltered  him  in  his  palace. 

"  This  information  filled  the  king  with  indignation  and 
fierce  resentment  against  Samuel. 

"'Dare  Samuel  of  Ramah  beard  me  thus?'  he  cried. 
*  Hath  he  not  wronged  me  already,  till  I  am  mad  with 
my  grief  and  troubles?  Let  an  armed  company  go  to 
Ramah  and  seize  David,  though  the  Seer  himself  hold 
him  back  by  his  girdle  !' 

"  When  they  came  into  Ramah  and  stood  before  the 
gate  of  the  House  Naioth,  they  were  admitted  into  the 
Hall  of  Praise,  where  they  beheld  Samuel  with  David  by 
his  side,  and  the  seventy  young  prophets  with  their  seven 
teachers,  all  with  harps,  and  nebals,  and  cymbals,  and 
dulcimers,  and  with  voices  engaged  in  singing  and  play 
ing  before  the  Lord  ;  Samuel  himself  sublimely  prophesy 
ing,  and  the  singers  answering  with  their  voices.  When 
the  king's  messengers  saw  this,  they  were  seized  with  a 
sudden  inspiration,  and  throwing  down  their  swords  and 
spears  they  caught  up  sackbut  and  viol,  and  joined  in  the 
loud  chants  of  divine  praise.  These  men  at  length  re* 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      299 

turned  to  the  king  and  said :  '  That  the  Spirit  of  God 
had  come  upon  them,  and  they  had  no  power  to  take 
David,  but  on  the  contrary  they  could  not  but  join  him 
in  his  hymns  to  God,  and  leave  him  at  peace.'  The 
king  sent  other  messengers,  who  were  similarly  affected 
and  returned  to  him.  A  third  time,  yesterday,  he  sent 
others,  led  by  Doeg,  all  fierce  and  cruel  men,  and  when 
these  came  in  the  presence  of  the  Seer  and  of  David,  in 
stead  of  arresting  him,  they  commenced  dancing  to  a 
sweet  melody  which  he  at  the  time  was  playing  upon  the 
harp,  striking  their  swords  against  their  bucklers  and 
making  the  Hall  of  Praise  ring  with  the  fall  of  their 
iron-shod  feet.  At  his  will  the  young  psalmist  moved 
them  by  his  skill ;  now  they  would  move  slowly  at  his 
slow  measure ;  now  he  would  strike  his  harp  with  quick 
strokes,  and  compel  them,  unable  to  resist  the  power  he 
mysteriously  had  over  them,  to  fly  along  in  dizzy  circles 
around  him,  wildly  and  violently  agitated  and  foaming 
at  the  mouth,  and  shouting  as  if  demoniacally  possessed. 
At  length,  when  they  were  utterly  exhausted,  he  released 
them  from  this  spell  by  ceasing  to  play,  when  they  reeled 
from  the  hall  like  men  drunken  with  wine,  and  made 
their  way  to  Hebron  to  report  to  Saul  how  the  harp  of 
David  had  made  them  mad,  and  compelled  them  to  pro 
phesy  like  demoniacs.  When  Saul  heard  this  he  turned 
pale  with  anger,  and  said  :  '  I  myself  will  go  to  Ramah 
and  take  him  !  Saul  shall  not  be  found  among  the  pro 
phets,  let  the  proverb  say  what  it  may  !' 

"  The  same  day  he  left  Hebron  with  five  hundred 
mounted  men  of  his  body-guard  at  his  back,  and  hastened 
to  Ramah.  He  rode  all  night,  and  at  daybreak  came  to 
the  well  of  Sechu  bv  the  twelve  oaks,  and  there  heard 


300  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

that  Samuel  and  David  had  gone  from  Ramah.  But 
while  he  was  trying  to  learn  the  truth  of  the  report, 
there  came  to  the  well  a  water-carrier,  who  said,  '  Lo  ! 
Samuel  and  David  are  still  at  Naioth  in  Ramah !' 

"  Then  the  king  rode  swiftly  to  the  city,  which  he  en 
tered  in  haste,  lest  David  should  escape  him.  Ere  he 
drew  near  the  house  of  Naioth,  or  ever  Samuel  beheld 
him  he  dismounted,  and  all  at  once  began  to  act  like  a 
man  suddenly  become  demoniac.  In  a  loud  voice,  he 
called  upon  Dagon  and  Baal,  the  gods  of  the  Philistines, 
after  their  manner,  and  Denied  all  at  once  to  have  be 
come  a  pagan  priest  before  his  own  people !  His  madness 
had  never  taken  this  form  before,  and  filled  them  with 
horror.  Upon  reaching  the  house  of  Samuel,  he  beheld 
the  Seer  standing  on  the  balcony  with  the  youthful  David 
by  his  side.  The  venerable  prophet  did  not  speak  to 
him,  but  his  brow  was  stern  with  displeasure  mingled 
with  pity.  Saul  fiercely  called  out  to  David  by  the  gods 
of  the  Philistines  to  come  down  and  deliver  himself  into 
his  hand.  But  David,  at  a  sign  from  the  prophet,  struck 
his  harp.  Immediately  the  insane  monarch  began  a 
heathenish  dance  before  the  house,  to  the  shame  of  all 
Israel !  As  he  danced,  he  prophesied  like  the  prophets 
of  Baal,  not  like  the  prophets  of  God.  As  David  played 
on,  the  wild  impulses  of  his  limbs  and  the  extravagant 
ecstacies  of  his  manner  increased,  so  that  it  seemed  as  if 
the  evil  demon,  who  possesses  him  since  he  was  foisaken 
of  God,  and  wrhich  the  divine  harp  of  David  once  drove 
from  him,  had  now  by  the  same  harp  been  summoned  to 
enter  into  him  ;  and  not  only  to  punish  him  for  his  in 
tentions  against  his  innocent  son-in-law,  but  to  expose 
him  to  the  derision  of  all  who  saw  him  or  heard  of  his 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      301 

shameless  performances  ;  for  he  had  not  danced  long  ere 
in  his  phrenzy  he  flung  down  his  helmet,  divested  him 
self  of  his  cuirass  and  greaves,  then  stripped  off  his  tunic, 
rent  his  royal  robe,  and  cast  it  to  the  ground,  and  tram 
pled  upon  it ;  and  so  continued  to  deprive  himself  of  all 
his  clothing,  until  there  alone  remained  his  woolen 
under-o;arments.  In  this  indecent  undress  he  continued 
to  dance  and  prophesy  to  the  gods,  until  exhausted  he 
sunk  to  the  ground,  and  lay  there  wallowing  and  foam- 
in  or  like  a  wild  beast  of  the  desert.  It  was  a  fearful 
o 

spectacle,  0  Prince  Arbaccs  !  All  men  saw  in  it  the 
judgments  of  God;  for  His  real  prophets,  when  under 
inspiration,  were  never  torn  by  such  contortions  and 
wild  agitations  of  the  body;  but  calmly  and  with  dignity 
pronounced  their  sublime  vaticinations  to  the  people. 
Thus  all  men  perceived  that  he  was  inspired  by  a  demon 
iacal  spirit,  such  as  possessed  the  false  prophets  of  Baal 
and  Ashtaroth ;  and  they  turned  from  him  with  horror 
and  fear ;  all  save  Docg  the  Edomite,  who  remained  by 
him  and  kept  wratch  over  him  all  that  night ;  for  the  de 
graded  and  lost  king  lay  there  on  the  ground  the  whole 
day  and  night  in  a  trance,  and  no  man  approached  him, 
but  all  stood  aloof  awaiting  the  issue  with  awe  and  shame. 
It  is  said  that  when  Saul  had  thrown  off  his  kingly  robe 
to  the  ground,  Samuel  commanded  David  to  go  down  and 
take  it  out  of  the  dust ;  and  that  he  did  so,  throwing  it 
across  his  arm  as  he  bore  it  to  the  prophet.  This  is  said 
by  our  wise  men  to  foreshadow  the  reign  of  David  on  the 
throne  of  Israel ;  for  there  is  a  tradition  that  if  a  king 
let  fall  his  royal  robe,  whosoever  taketh  it  up  will,  by 
and  by,  lawfully  wear  it.  All  eyes  are  therefore  turned 
towards  David  with  new  interest. 


302  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

"  While  the  king  lay  thus  in  the  deep  trance  which 
followed  his  violence,  David  secretly  left  the  palace  of 
Naioth,  and  escaping  from  Ramah,  accompanied  by  his 
friend  Nathan  the  prophet,  he  came  to  Gibeah  where  he 
met  Jonathan,  who  was  on  his  way  with  his  whole  body 
guard  of  one  thousand  men  to  protect  him,  having  not 
heard  of  his  father's  secret  and  sudden  departure  by 
night  from  Hebron  until  he  had  waked  the  following 
morning.  When  Jonathan  beheld  him  approaching  alone 
and  safe,  he  leaped  from  his  foaming  charger  to  the 
ground  and  ran  forward  and  embraced  him  long  and 
tenderly,  weeping  upon  his  neck  for  joy  at  his  escape. 
Then  dismissing  his  body-guard  to  go  back  to  Hebron, 
he  escorted  him  privately  to  Bethlehem,  his  father's  house, 
and  left  him  there  until  he  should  learn  whether  the  king 
would  cease  his  persecution  and  permit  him  to  return  to 
Michal  and  his  home. 

"  Such,  my  lord  Arbaces,"  concludes  this  epistle  of 
Heleph,  the  prince's  armor-bearer,  "  is  now  the  present 
state  of  affairs.  Saul  is  on  his  return  with  his  five  hun 
dred  horsemen,  looking,  say  those  who  have  come  faster 
than  he,  like  a  corpse  riding,  his  face  rigid,  his  eyes 
stony,  his  mouth  sealed  like  a  sepulchre.  All  his  men 
are  afraid  of  him.  He  left  Ramah  this  morning,  with 
out  speaking  to  the  Seer,  or  beholding  him  more. 
Without  a  word  he  had  resumed  his  disordered  and  torn 
apparel,  asked  not  for  his  royal  robe,  and  like  a  warrior 
defeated  and  smitten  in  sore  warfare,  he  slowly  rode 
along  the  streets,  and  out  of  the  gates  of  Ramah  towards 
his  capital. 

"  As  I  close  this  letter,  my  lord,  I  hear  some  one, 
passing,  say,  '  The  king's  escort  is  in  sight  beyond 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      303 

Mamre !'  Pardon  this  long  epistle,  noble  Prince  of 
Asshur ;  but  the  continued  delay  of  the  caravan  by  the 
lingering  illness,  and  at  last  death  of  its  captain,  has 
tempted  me  to  keep  the  letter  open,  to  add  to  it  the  his 
tory  of  the  progress  of  events  as  they  have  been  day  by 
day  developed.  The  person  who  is  to  take  it  to  Egypt, 
assures  me  that  a  new  captain  has  been  chosen,  and  that 
the  caravan  will  leave  at  sunrise  without  fail !  Written, 
0  Arbaces,  by 

"  Your  humble  servant, 
"  HELEPH, 

"  The  armor-bearer.'1 

Here,  your  majesty,  (resumed  Arbaces  to  KingBelus,) 
here  ends  the  twofold  letter  of  Prince  Jonathan  and  of 
his  military  servant  Ileleph.  It  reached  me  in  eleven 
days,  for  the  Damascus  caravan  was  composed  wholly  of 
camels,  and  came  on  swiftly ;  thus  the  events  transpiring 
in  Judea,  are  brought  up  to  a  period,  six  or  seven  weeks 
after  niy  departure,  there  having  been  now  almost  nine 
weeks  since  I  left  Hebron.  In  that  period  what  extra 
ordinary  scenes  have  been  enacted  !  How  persistent  the 
vengeance  of  Saul !  How  wonderful  David's  numerous 
escapes  from  death  !  How  remarkable  all  that  transpired 
at  Ramah !  There  was  surely  a  divine  power  which  in 
terposed  for  David,  and  brought  upon  the  king  such  a 
strange  malady.  Truly  the  God  of  the  Hebrews  yet 
lives,  and  is  powerful  to  defend  his  chosen  ones  !  David 
is  evidently  under  his  care,  and  heaven-defended  in  all 
his  paths.  Only  a  madman  would  continue  to  combat 
against  one  so  plainly  sheltered  under  the  wings  of  his 
God. 


804  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

But  let  me  not  forget  my  mission  here  in  Egypt,  yonr 
majesty,  while  giving  so  much  attention  to  what  passes 
in  Judea.  As  I  stated  at  the  commencement  of  this  long 
letter,  (or  letters  within  letters,)  I  have  been  delayed 
here  more  than  two  months  in  a  state  of  uncertainty, 
waiting  for  a  formal  answer  to  my  proposal  on  behalf  of 
your  majesty  for  the  hand  of  the  beautiful  princess 
Zaila.  Without  doubt  she  has  already  made  up  her 
own  mind  to  the  marriage ;  for  she  never  wearies  hearing 
me  discourse  of  you  and  Nineveh ;  and  for  your  sake  she 
confers  upon  me  the  greatest  attention  ;  while  Pharaoh 
is  courteous  and  friendly,  and  seems  never  weary '  in 
venting  some  new  entertainment.  I  have  resolved  that 
on  the  third  day  from  the  present,  which  will  close  one 
of  their  high  festivals  to  Apis,  I  will  ask  of  the  king  a 
final  reply  to  your  majesty's  suit. 

Your  faithful  and  affectionate 

ARBACES. 

THE  third  day  after  writing  the  preceding  letter  to  his  king, 
the  Assyrian  ambassador  sought  an  audience  with  Pharaoh, 
and  formally  asked  the  king  for  his  final  answer. 

The  monarch,  with  great  amenity  of  manner  and  tone,  as 
sured  the  ambassador  that  the  princess  had  already  made  up 
her  mind,  and  that  if  he  would  wait  upon  her  she  would  com 
municate  to  him  her  determination. 

The  beautiful  Zaila  received  the  prince  in  her  pavilion  on 
the  Nile,  amid  her  garden  of  flowers.  She  was  seated  in  a 
chair  of  ivory,  inlaid  with  gold,  and  covered  with  velvet,  woven 
with  the  richest  pictures.  An  exquisite  odor  of  perfumes  was 
diffused  throughout  the  atmosphere  around  her.  Her  dark 
cloud  of  hair  was  elegantly  decorated  with  bands  of  pearls,  and 
her  graceful  neck  was  resplendent  with  a  collet  of  gems.  Her 
beautiful  shoulders  were  covered  with  a  transparent  net  of  silk, 
spotted  with  silver,  and  edged  with  a  border  of  gold.  Her  soft 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.     305 

eyes  beamed  with  the  gentle  fire  of  the  startled  antelope's,  and 
her  mouth  was  like  a  cloven  pomegranate  for  sweetness  and 
orilliancy  of  color.  Pendent  tresses,  black  as  the  wing  of  the 
raven,  flowed  down  her  neck,  which  looked  "  like  a  tower  of 
lilies"  to  the  oriental  imagination  of  the  handsome  young  As 
syrian.  Bracelets  of  wrought  gold  clasped  her  perfectly 
moulded  wrists,  and  upon  her  small  fingers  sparkled  rings  and 
signets  set  with  topazes  and  emeralds.  She  was  arrayed  in  a 
graceful  robe  of  virgin  white,  light  as  a  zephyr,  floating  around 
her,  over  which,  not  concealing  it,  was  a  scarlet  bodice,  clasped 
across  her  dove-like  breast  with  ouches  of  diamonds ;  and  her 
gracefully  shaped  ivory  feet  glittered  in  exquisite  sandals  of 
sweet-scented  wood.  Arbaces  thought  her  the  most  elegant  of 
women  !  A  captivating  smile,  bewildering  and  fascinating,  jret 
half  veiled  in  maidenly  coyness,  greeted  his  entrance.  She  was 
alone,  and  the  charming  retreat  in  which  she  had  chosen  to  re 
ceive  him,  was  perfectly  secluded  from  the  curiosity  of  ear  or 
eye. 

"  Be  seated,  my  lord  Arbaces !"  said  this  lovely  woman, 
whose  looks  betrayed  that  certain  consciousness  of  power, 
which  is  the-  birthright  of  personal  beauty.  He  drew  near 
with  downcast  eyes,  and  kneeling  before  the  Egyptian  princess, 
touched  her  hand  with  a  respectful  salute. 

"  I  have  come,  noble  lady,"  he  said,  rising,  "to  ask  of  you, 
to  whom  the  king  your  father  has  referred  me,  the  fate  of  my 
beloved  master.  It  is  in  your  hands,  lovely  princess.  Shall  I 
return  to  him  bearing  the  fair  prize  he  pants  to  clasp  to  his 
heart,  or  sadly  go  back  to  him,  and  convey  to  bin?  a  message 
of  denial  of  his  royal  suit  ?" 

Her  bosom  palpitated !  Her  color  came  and  went !  Her 
eyes  beamed  with  the  ardent  splendors  of  love.  She  laid  her 
hand  on  the  wrist  of  the  handsome  young  ambassador,  and  said 
with  emotion, 

"  Thou  needest  not  return  at  all  to  thy  king,  0  prince  !  I 
can  not  become  his  wife  !  From  the  first  I  have  not  cared  for 
him — only  for  tJiee  !  Plead  for  thyself,  0  Arbaces!  How  dull 
hast  thou  appeared  to  me  not  to  know  that  I  have  all  along 
loved  thee,  thought  of  thee,  listened  to  thee  alone  !  While  thou 
29 


306  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

didst  foolishly  believe  thou  wert  winning  my  heart  for  thy 
king,  thou  wert  winning  it  for  thyself!  My  hand  is  thine  only ! 
I  can  love  only  thee  !  Here,  as  my  wedded  lord,  thou  shalt 
one  day  rule  over  Egypt,  and  wield  the  sceptre  of  the  Pha 
raohs.  My  father  is  with  me  in  this !  Remain  thou  in  Egypt ! 
Send  back  his  gifts  to  the  King  of  Assyria.  Accept  my  hand, 
which  I  freely  offer  thee,  and — " 

Arbaces  could  listen  to  no  more !  His  whole  countenance 
evinced  amazement,  grief,  and  horror!  With  a  pale  cheek, 
and  bright  fires  in  his  indignant  eyes,  he  cried, 

"  Dost  thou,  0  princess,  tempt  me  to  turn  traitor  to  my 
king  ?  Not  all  thy  beauty,  and  thou  art  the  most  beautiful 
among  women,  not  the  throne  of  Egypt,  nor  the  sceptre  of  all 
the  Pharaohs,  can  tempt  me  to  betray  my  trust !" 

"  It  is  no  betrayal !  I  positively  refuse  ever  to  wed  King 
Belus  !"  she  answered.  "  How  then  canst  thou  regard  thyself 
a  traitor,  when  thou  weddest  one  who  can  never  become  his  ?" 

"  No !  no !  Oh,  fair  and  wise  princess,  do  not  refuse  the 
love  of  Belus  !"  he  exclaimed. 

"  How  can  he  love  me,  whom  he  has  seen  not  ?"  she  an 
swered.  "  Thee  I  love  !  Thee  I  will  wed,  0  Arbaces  !" 

"  Never  !"  he  cried  in  a  loud  tone.  "  Never,  lady  !  By  all 
the  gods  of  Egypt,  and  by  the  throne  of  Nineveh  I  swear,  I 
will  never  prove  so  false  to  my  master  as  to  wed  thee  I  I  should 
deserve  to  perish  basely." 

"  Dost  thou  despise  the  hand  of  Egypt's  daughter?"  she  de 
manded,  with  flashing  eyes. 

"  I  despise  thee  not,  0  princess,"  he  answered,  sorrowfully ; 
"  but  I  love  my  master's  honor  more  V 

"  Go !"  she  said,  imperatively. 

He  left  her  presence.  He  felt  that  his  mission  was  defeated, 
and  by  himself,  yet  innocently  !  With  a  heavy  heart  he  sought 
his  apartments.  Without  delay  he  sent  Ninus,  his  armor-bearer, 
to  bid  Nacherib,  the  chief  captain,  to  come  before  him. 

"  My  mission  has  failed,"  he  said.  "  We  must  leave  Egypt 
to-morrow.  Hasten  thy  preparations  !" 

He  then  made  known  to  his  officers  the  condition  of  affairs. 
A.fter  a  little  reflection  Nacherib  said  • — 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      307 

"  Since  the  princess  dotli  refuse  my  lord  the  king,  and  offers 
thyself  the  throne  of  Egypt,  0  Prince  Arbaces,  there  can  be 
no  betrayal  of  thy  trust  in  taking  her  thyself  to  wife  !" 

"  Talk  not  thus  to  me,"  answered  Arbaces,  "I  know  my  duty. 
Belus  would  believe  to  the  last  I  had  sued  for  myself  rather 
than  for  him !  To  his  dying  hour  he  would  regard  me  as  a 
traitor  !  No,  let  us  leave  Egypt  on  the  morrow  !" 

On  the  morrow  Arbaces  found  himself  a  prisoner !     The 
love  of  the  princess  developed  into  resentment,  and  the  proud 
Pharaoh  lent  his  power  to  her  revenge,  and  placed  the  ambas 
sador  in  the  Castle  of  On  ! 

Nacherib,  after  waiting  many  months,  trying  to  obtain  his 
release,  sold  his  camels  and  horses,  and  all  the  royal  gifts  of  the 
King  of  Assyria,  and  hired  a  ship  of  Phrenicia  that  wavS  in  the 
Nile,  and  sent  forward  to  Tyre  all  the  servants  and  men  of  the 
caravan,  whence  by  land  they  gained  the  valley  of  the  Tigris, 
under  the  escort  of  a  Syrian  company  of  merchants.  Nache 
rib  and  the  nine  hundred  men  of  the  body-guard  of  Arbaces, 
with  the  chariots,  sorrowfully  then  left  Egypt  by  the  desert  to 
seek  again  their  far  distant  country.  Ninus,  the  faithful  armor- 
bearer  of  the  prince,  with  his  personal  guard  of  one  hundred 
nobles,  remained  in  Egypt,  resolved  never  to  leave  it  without 
their  leader.  Pharaoh  did  not  molest  them,  but  allowed  Ninus 
and  his  band  to  occupy  a  small  garrison  near  the  Nile.  He  did 
not  wish,  by  taking  the  life  of  a  single  Assyrian,  to  bring  on  a 
war  with  the  powerful  Belus  of  Nineveh.  Weak  in  purpose, 
and  irresolute  and  timid,  the  King  of  Egypt  had  no  desire  need 
lessly  to  oifeud  him.  His  own  wish  would  have  been  the  union 
of  the  two  empires  in  friendship  by  the  proposed  marriage. 
But  his  daughter's  will  controlled  his  own.  For  her  own  plea 
sure  she  held  the  prince  two  years  and  a  half  in  prison  !  Dur 
ing  this  interval  the  fair  tyrant  frequently  had  him  before  her, 
and  offered  him  liberty  at  the  price  of  her  hand  !  But  the 
faithful  and  stern  Arbaces  refused  her  terms,  and  preferred  im 
prisonment  to  suspicion  of  treachery  ! 

When,  at  length,  the  King  of  Assyria  heard  by  the  returned 
persons,  who  had  formed  a  portion  of  the  caravan,  that  his  am 
bassador  had  failed  in  his  mission,  and  was  in  prison,  he  re- 


308  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;   OR, 

solved  to  declare  war  against  Egypt,  and  advance  to  the  rescue 
of  his  ambassador  and  friend.  At  length,  the  indignant  Na- 
cherib  also  arrived  at  Nineveh  with  his  legion,  and  made  known 
to  the  monarch  all  the  particulars.  When  Belus  heard  all,  and 
understood  how  the  noble  and  trusty  Arbaces  had  sacrificed 
himself  to  the  revenge  of  the  disappointed  princess,  he  began 
to  assemble  his  armies,  and  soon  marched  to  invade  Egypt. 
Belesis,  viceroy  of  Babylon,  taking  advantage  of  his  departure 
from  the  kingdom,  instantly  raised  the  standard  of  revolution, 
declared  Babylon  the  sole  capital  of  the  united  empires,  and 
proclaimed  himself  king.  Intelligence  of  these  events  were 
brought  to  Belus  in  the  desert,  as  at  the  head  of  three  hun 
dred  thousand  men  he  was  crossing  it  between  the  Euphrates 
and  the  Jordan.  He  did  not  hesitate  to  turn  back  in  the  very 
hour  to  recover  his  dominions.  A  war  of  two  years'  continuance 
absorbed  all  his  attention,  employed  his  armies,  and  prevented 
the  conquest  of  Egypt.  At  length,  when  he  had  reduced  Ba 
bylon,  taken  and  beheaded  the  traitor,  Belesis,  and  restored  the 
peace  and  integrity  of  his  vast  dominions,  he  was  about  to  take 
up  his  Egyptian  quarrel,  (for  he  had  not  ceased  to  think  of  his 
beloved  Arbaces  a  prisoner  to  a  revengeful  woman  on  the  banks 
of  the  Nile,)  when  the  courier  of  the  semi-annual  Damascus 
caravan  brought  him  a  letter.  The  superscription  was  in  the 
well-known  hand-writing  of  his  beloved  and  long  lost  ambassa 
dor  !  With  a  countenance  radiant  with  joy,  he  cut  the  bands 
and  tore  the  seals  of  the  envelope,  and  began  eagerly  to  read  it. 
It  was  dated,  to  his  great  surprise  as  well  as  unfeigned  plea 
sure,  not  from  a  prison  in  Egypt,  but  at  Bethlehem  in  Judea ! 
The  letter,  which  is  given  on  the  opposite  page,  will,  doubtless, 
be  perused  by  the  reader  with  an  interest  little  less  than  that 
experienced  by  the  king. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      309 


LETTER    X. 
ARBACES  TO  KING  EELUS. 

BETHLEHEM,  KINGDOM  OF  JUDKA. 
MY   BELOVED   AND    HONORED    KlNG : 

OXCE  more,  0  Belus,  your  Arbaces  resumes  his  long 
silent  pen,  and  addresses  your  majesty  from  the  country 
of  the  Hebrews.  Of  my  long  imprisonment  in  Egypt 
you  have  heard  by  Nacherib,  as  I  know  by  your  kind 
letter  which  was  conveyed  to  me  in  my  prison  by  your 
faithful  courier.  I  will  not  here  enter  into  the  causes 
which  led  to  the  failure  of  my  mission ;  but  when  I  visit 
Assyria,  which  I  shall  do  ere  many  months,  I  will  go 
into  a  full  explanation  of  the  circumstances,  and  take 
the  due  share  of  blame  which  falls  upon  me.  Your  de 
claration  in  your  kind  letter  that  I  was  free  from  all 
censure,  and  worthy  of  the  highest  honor,  filled  my  heart 
with  profound  joy,  and  lightened  the  weight  of  my  long 
bondage. 

How  can  I  condemn  in  strong  words  the  woman  whom 
love  prompted  to  treat  me  so  cruelly  !  It  was  only  at  the 
death  of  the  princess,  three  months  ago,  that  my  prison 
doors  were  opened  by  Pharaoh,  who,  in  giving  me  my 
liberty,  desired  to  exculpate  himself  from  all  responsibil 
ity  ;  assuring  me  "  that  he  entertained  the  warmest 


310          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

admiration  for  your  majesty  and  myself,  and  trusted  that 
the  'trifling  love-passage  between  me  and  the  deceased 
princess'  would  not  lead  to  warlike  issues.'  I  promised 
the  king  I  would  represent  all  the  facts  to  your  majesty; 
and  so,  with  an  escort  of  honor  to  his  eastern  borders 
given  me,  and  with  my  guard  of  nobles,  reduced  to 
ninety-two  men,  I 'left  his  kingdom. 

At  the  end  of  five  weeks,  often  resting  by  the  way  to 
gather  strength,  for  my  health  had  suffered  by  the  con 
finement  and  climate  of  Egypt,  I  reached  Hebron,  after 
an  absence  of  nearly  three  years.  In  that  city  I  remained 
a  few  days,  and  then,  by  the  advice  of  the  skillful  Arabian 
physician  who  accompanied  me  from  Egypt,  and  by  in 
vitation  of  former  friends,  I  came  hither  to  the  city  of 
Bethlehem,  famed  for  the  salubrity  of  its  air. 

I  am  a  guest  in  the  house  of  Joab,  the  Captain,  who  is 
married  to  a  fair  maiden  of  Jericho,  and  is  become  one 
of  the  chief  warriors  among  the  Hebrews. 

What  extraordinary  changes  have  taken  place  since  1 
was  last  in  Judea !  How  different  the  state  of  affairs  ! 
As  I  have  been  deeply  interested  in  hearing  relations  of 
all  the  principal  occurrences  which  have  transpired  since 
I  received  the  letters  written  to  me  by  Prince  Jonathan, 
and  by  his  armor-bearer,  Heleph,  and  as  I  know  your 
majesty  will  also  take  an  interest  in  their  recital,  I  will 
employ  a  portion  of  my  slow  convalescence  in  making  you 
acquainted  with  these  affairs. 

If  your  majesty  will  refer  to  the  letter  of  Heleph,  the 
armor-bearer,  a  copy  of  which  I  sent  you  from  Egypt 
nearly  three  years  ago,  and  but  a  few  days  before  my 
imprisonment,  you  will  find  that  he  closed  his  narrative 
as  King  Saul  was  approaching  Hebron,  after  his  morti- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      31] 

fjing  and  unsuccessful  attempt  to  seize  David  in  Ramah 
while  protected  by  the  Seer-  You  will  there  learn  how 
David,  taking  advantage  of  the  trance  into  which  the 
king  was  thrown  by  the  power  of  Samuel  and  by  David's 
harp,  fled  from  Ramah,  and  met  Jonathan  with  a  thou 
sand  men  coming  to  his  relief,  and  that  by  him  he  was 
secretly  escorted  to  his  father's  house  at  Bethlehem. 

After  Saul  returned  to  his  palace,  David  privately 
came  to  his  own  house  by  night,  and  sent  Michal  for  her 
brother.  From  him  he  learned  that  the  king  had  in  no  de 
gree  changed  his  mind  against  him  ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
was  more  bitter  than  before  in  his  denunciations  of  him. 

But  Michal,  his  wife,  went  and  entreated  her  father 
so  earnestly,  and  with  such  a  flood  of  tears,  to  forego  his 
vengeance  against  her  husband,  that  he  relented  ;  and, 
in  her  joy,  she  told  him  David  was  with  her. 

"  Let  him  remain,  and  go  in  and  out  before  me  as  here 
tofore  !"  he  said. 

But  David  did  not  feel  secure;  though  he  remained 
several  days  in  the  palace,  and  sought  to  please  the  king 
in  every  way,  and  three  times  a  day  sitting  at  meat  be 
fore  him.  At  length,  he  said  to  Jonathan: — 

"  A  feeling  of  insecurity  is  ever  present  with  me ! 
A  look  the  king  cast  upon  me  to-day  troubles  me !  If 
thou  knowest  the  king's  mind  towards  me,  hide  it  not 
from  me  !  I  am  sure  in  his  heart  he  seeks  my  life  !  I 
dare  not  appear  in  his  presence  again  until  I  know  his 
feelings  towards  me  !  I  fear  he  will  kill  me  !" 

"  God  forbid  !  Thou  shalt  not  die,  my  beloved  Da 
vid,"  answered  the  prince.  "  Do  not  think  my  father 
again  evil-disposed  towards  thee !  I  should  know  it. 
He  hides  nothing  from  me  !" 


812  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

"  But  the  king  knoweth  that  I  have  been  so  honored 
as  to  find  such  grace  in  thine  eyes  as  to  be  chosen  by 
thee  thy  bosom  friend,  and  will  he  not  say,  i  What  I  do 
I  will  withhold  from  my  son,  lest  he  betray  it  to  David?' ' 

Then  said  Jonathan,  seeing  his  friend  was  feeling 
deeply,  and  living  daily  in  such  a  state  of  suspense : 

"  What  shall  I  do  for  thee,  0  my  friend  and  brother  ? 
Whatsoever  is  in  thine  heart  I  will  do  !" 

"Behold,"  said  David,  "  to-morrow  is  the  new  moon  and 
the  three  days'  feast  beginneth.  I  will  absent  myself  from 
the  table  of  the  king  to  be  present  at  the  sacrifice  which 
my  family  at  Bethlehem  always  makes  at  this  season,  and 
to  which  my  brother,  Eliab,  hath  sent  me  pressing  word 
to  be  present.  With  your  permission  I  will  go.  If  thy 
father  at  all  miss  me,  then  say  I  obtained  thy  consent  to 
be  at  Bethlehem  with  my  family.  If  the  king  say,  '  It 
is  well !'  and  makes  no  further  remark,  I  shall  have  peace 
for  the  future ;  but  if  he  shows  great  wrath  at  my  ab 
sence  be  sure  he  has  not  changed  his  disposition  towards 
me,  and  only  waiteth  the  hour  to  do  me  evil !  Pardon 
me,  0  Jonathan !  But  my  heart  is  heavy.  If  I  have 
done  evil  to  the  king,  I  am  ready  to  die  at  the  hand  of 
the  king's  son  !  Slay  me  here  !  But  if  I  am  innocent, 
by  the  sacred  covenant  of  friendship,  and  love  between 
us  so  long,  let  me  know  if  thy  father  determines  evil 
against  me  !" 

As  David  spoke,  tears  filled  his  expressive  and  earnest 
eyes,  and  brushing  them  away  he  continued : — 

"  It  is  not  fear  !  I  do  not  fear  death  !  but  it  is  hard 
for  my  king,  the  father  of  my  wife,  and  of  my  best 
friend  on  earth,  to  hate  me  so  bitterly  and  seek  my 
life  !  I  would  prefer  meeting  in  open  battle  a  thousand 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      313 

Philistines  than  remain  in  this  jeopardy  of  momentary 
murder !" 

"Nay,  dear  David,"  said  the  prince,  "if  I  knew  cer 
tainly  that  evil  were  determined  by  my  father  to  come 
upon  thee,  would  I  not  tell  it  thee  ?  Canst  thou  doubt 
it,  friend  of  my  soul?  I  see  that  thou  fearest  I  would 
hide  my  father's  wickedness,  loth  to  tell  it  any  man  for 
his  and  my  sake  !  But  painful  as  it  would  be  to  me  to 
expose  my  father's  sin,  I  would  not  fail  thee  !" 

Here  the  prince  raised  his  right  hand  to  heaven,  and 
swore  before  the  Lord  that  he  would  certainly  ascertain 
his  father's  mind  and  make  it  known  to  David ! 

"  The  Lord  bless  thee,  my  friend,"  answered  the  per 
secuted  young  man.  "  I  will  no  more  mistrust  thee  ! 
Forgive  me  !  But  I  know  as  a  son  thou  honorest  thy 
father  and  lovest  him,  and  would  naturally  seek  to  hide 
what  in  him  mortifies  and  pains  thee  !  Forgive  me  if  I 
feared  thou  wouldst  think  more  of  thy  father's  honor 
than  of  my  life  !  I  have  wronged  thee  !  Thou  art  placed 
by  thy  friendship  for  me  in  a  painful  position  !" 

"  If  it  please  my  father  to  do  thee  evil,"  answered  the 
prince,  "then  will  I  shew  it  thee,  and  we  will  separate,  thou 
going  in  peace  where  thou  canst  find  safety,  I  remaining 
with  him,  which  I  will  do  to  the  last  !  I  stand  or  fall, 
0  David,  with  my  father's  fortunes  !  The  Lord  be  with 
thee,  if  thou  goest  away  to  escape  his  hand,  as  he  was 
with  my  father  in  the  former  years  when  God  and  the 
Seer  were  his  friends,  and  all  men  honored  him  for  his 
virtues  and  admired  him  for  his  valor.  And,  0  David, 
with  whom  will  be  the  power  of  this  realm,  by  our  cove 
nant  of  friendship,  forget  me  not  when  thou  art  in  my 
father's  throne,  if  then  I  am  alive  !  Cut  not  off  thy 


314  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

kindness  from  my  father's  house  when  thou  art  in  glory 
and  they  in  humility  !  Remember  all  my  kindred  for 
our  friendship's  sake,  and  may  the  Lord  cut  off  all  thine 
enemies  from  the  face  of  the  earth  !" 

This  touching  language  deeply  moved  David  !  "What  a 
sublime,  moral  spectacle,  your  majesty  !  A  young  prince, 
his  father  still  on  the  throne,  tenderly  suing  with  words 
of  trusting  faith  the  youthful  shepherd,  (a  fugitive  from 
his  house,  his  life  sought  by  his  own  royal  father,)  for 
the  protection  of  his  sceptre,  when  he  should  by-and-by 
be  king  in  his  father's  place  !  What  a  beautiful  scene  ! 
What  noble  attributes  of  character  the  young  prince  dis 
plays  !  How  touching  his  ready  and  unquestioning  sub 
mission  to  the  destiny  of  disinheritance  which  he  knows 
has  been  pronounced  against  him  !  David,  with  emotion, 
made  the  promise,  and  clasping  the  hand  of  his  prince 
he  raised  his  right  arm  to  heaven  and  confirmed  it  by  a 
solemn  oath :  "  If  I  fail  thee  or  thine  in  this,  let  the  Lord 
requite  it  upon  me,  and  let  the  enemies  of  Saul  become 
David's  adversaries !" 

The  young  men  then  renewed  their  noble  covenant  of 
love  and  friendship,  and  their  souls  were  knitted  closer 
together  from  that  moment ! 

David  immediately  left  for  Bethlehem,  but  previously 
arranged  how  Jonathan  should  give  him  information 
without  visiting  him,  and  thus  exciting  Saul's  suspicions ; 
for  next  to  his  hatred  against  David  was  aroused  his 
indignation  at  the  firm  and  unshaken  friendship  which 
existed  between  his  son  and  his  foe.  He  felt  that  Jona 
than  did  him  a  great  injury  by  not  making  the  quarrel 
also  his  own,  and  he  had,  the  very  morning  on  which  the 
conversation  I  have  just  given,  (as  it  has  been  reported 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      315 

to  me,)  charged  him  with  being  "  Saul's  enemy,  because 
he  was  David's  friend."  The  prince,  therefore,  held  this 
interview  with  his  friend  with  the  greatest  secrecy. 

The  day  of  the  holy  feast  came,  and  David's  place 
was  empty.  The  king  was  observed  to  look  steadily  at 
the  vacant  seat,  but  he  made  no  remark.  This  was  a 
favorable  omen  :  and  Jonathan's  heart  felt  lighter.  On 
the  morrow,  also,  David's  seat  was  empty  at  the  king's 
table.  Abner,  his  general,  sat  on  his  right  hand,  and 
Jonathan  on  his  left.  Ishbosheth  and  his  two  brothers 
sat  opposite  to  him.  At  one  end  was  Joab,  at  the  other, 
was  the  vacant  seat  of  the  absent  son-in-law.  At  a 
lower  table  sat  Arnioni  and  Mephibosheth,  two  sons  of 
Saul,  by  the  proud  and  beautiful  Ilizpah  his  favorite, 
and  also  the  husband  of  Merab  his  eldest  daughter.  The 
women  held  the  feast  in  their  own  apartments.  Thus, 
all  the  royal  family  being  present,  the  absence  of  David, 
to  whom  every  one  believed  his  father-in-law  was  fully 
reconciled,  was  the  more  marked !  It  certainly  was 
likely  to  prove  a  sound  test  of  the  sincerity  of  the  king's 
goodwill  towards  him. 

u  Wherefore  cometh  not  the  son  of  Jesse  to  meat, 
neither  yesterday  nor  to-day  ?"  demanded  Saul  in  a  loud 
tone,  which  made  all  present  start ! 

The  guests  looked  at  one  another,  and  then  at  Jona 
than  in  silence !  The  attendants  appeared  alarmed. 
The  dark-browed  Prince  Ishbosheth,  who  disliked  his 
brother-in-law,  wliuse  manly  piety  rebuked  his  vices  and 
excesses,  said  with  a  sneer,  "  Doubtless,  his  friend  Jona 
than,  who  seems  to  keep  advised  of  all  his  movements, 
can  answer  !" 

"  David  earnestly  asked  leave  of  me  to  go  to  Bethle 


316  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

hem,"  answered  the  prince;  "for  his  family  have  a  sac 
rifice  there  to-day,  and  his  elder  brother  commanded  him 
to  be  present  there.  I  gave  him  the  permission  he 
sought.  Therefore  his  place  is  empty  at  the  king's 
table !" 

Upon  hearing  this,  the  monarch  sprang  to  his  feet, 
and  seizing  his  javelin,  which  he  never  went  without,  he 
shook  it  fiercely  across  the  board  at  the  prince,  and  cried 
with  kindling  anger : 

"  Thou  son  of  a  perverse  mother  !  A  rebellious  wife 
was  she  to  me,  and  a  rebellious  son  hath  she  borne  to 
me  !  Thou  hast  chosen  this  son  of  Jesse  to  thy  own  con 
fusion  and  the  shame  of  thy  father !  For  as  long  as  this 
son  of  Jesse  liveth  upon  the  ground,  thou  shalt  not  be 
held  in  honor,  nor  thy  kingdom  established !  Thou 
warmest  a  viper  in  thy  bosom  that  shall  sting  thee ! 
Thou  protectest  a  base  hind,  who  will  one  day  step  on 
thy  neck  to  climb  up  into  thy  throne  !  Go  !  Send,  and 
fetch  him  unto  me,  for  by  the  throne  I  sit  upon,  he  shall 
surely  die  the  death!" 

"  Wherefore,  0  my  father,  should  the  innocent  person 
be  slain?  What  hath  he  done  worthy  of  death?"  in 
terceded  Jonathan. 

"  Thou  art  even  like  unto  him  !"  answered  the  king, 
his  eyes  burning  like  coals  of  fire ;  and  without  hesita 
tion  he  cast  at  the  prince,  his  son,  the  javelm  from  his 
hand,  intending  to  slay  him.  It  flew  past  his  shoulder, 
and  flying  through  a  distant  casement,  was  heard  to 
strike  and  shiver  into  fragments  against  a  column  of 
porphyry  in  the  lawn,  which  had  been  erected  to  the 
memory  of  Ezel,  a  youth  who,  twenty  years  before,  had 
saved  Saul's  life  in  battle. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      317 

Thus  Jonathan's  bold  friendship  for  David  had  brought 
his  own  life  into  jeopardy.  The  prince  in  great  and  just 
anger  rose  from  the  table,  grieved  more  for  David  than 
for  himself,  for  he  now  plainly  saw  that  his  friend's  death 
was  determined  upon  !  Without  doubt,  your  majesty, 
Kin"'  Saul  had  received  some  intimation  that  it  was 

o 

David  to  whom  his  offended  God  was  to  give  his  forfeited 
throne,  and  hence  his  persistent  and  relentless  purpose 
to  slay  him !  But  in  vain  will  man  attempt  to  overthrow 
the  decrees  of  the  heavenly  Powers !  Death  can  not 
touch  the  life  of  one  whom  the  gods  determine  shall  ac 
complish  a  foreordained  destiny !  Spear  and  sword, 
javelin  and  dagger,  subtile  poisons,  and  crafty  devices, 
all  fail  against  him  !  Neither  fire  can  burn,  water  drown, 
earth  entomb,  or  pestilence  in  the  air  harm  such  a  child 
of  destiny  !  King  Saul  might  as  well  have  cast  his  jave 
lin  against  the  rocky  sides  of  Mount  Hor,  hoping  to 
overturn  it,  as  aim  at  the  life  of  the  God-shielded  youth, 
to  whom  the  fiat  of  heaven  had  given  his  throne. 

Upon  leaving  the  king's  presence,  the  offended  prince 
sought  his  sister,  David's  young  wife,  for  sympathy ;  and 
together  they  discussed  the  danger  of  David.  While  she 
said  that  he  must  no  more  come  to  Hebron,  she  expressed 
herself  ready  to  go  to  him,  arid  accompany  him  in  all  his 
wanderings.  But  Jonathan  dissuaded  her  from  this 
step,  saying  that  she  would  at  present  be  rather  a  burden 
to  him,  as  he  had  no  where  to  lay  his  head,  though  heir 
to  the  kingdom  of  Israel ;  for  it  was  no  secret  to  Michal 
now,  that  God  had  promised  to  set  her  exiled  husband 
on  the  throne  of  Jacob  !  Yet  how  mysterious  to  them 
were  these  trials  and  dangers  through  which  he  was  to 
reach  it!  How  strange  that  the  "chosen  of  Heaven' 


318  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

should  be  permitted  to  suffer  such  humiliation  before  his 
exaltation  !  It  is  singularly  analogous  with  the  trials  of 
the  Israelites  as  a  nation  under  the  hatred  of  Pharaoh, 
and  their  wanderings  in  the  wilderness  !  The  dealings 
of  their  God  seem  to  be  always  the  same  !  If  it  be  an 
honor  to  be  chosen  by  Him  for  any  great  end,  that 
honor,  lest  it  should  lead  to  pride  of  heart,  is  compen 
sated  by  corresponding  humiliations.  It  would  appear 
to  be  his  Divine  policy,  that  those  whom  he  will  distin 
guish  above  others,  must  first  descend  lower  than  others ; 
first  suffer  ere  they  possess  the  glory  and  honor  in  store 
for  them !  and  that  this  great,  wise,  and  holy,  and 
dreadful  God,  0  Belus,  is  the  God  of  all  gods,  and  the 
Supreme  Deity  of  the  world,  I  am  almost  prepared  to 
believe ! 

The  next  morning,  while  the  king  slept,  Jonathan  left 
the  palace,  and,  by  a  private  gate  in  the  city  wall,  en 
tered  the  garden  beyond  it  accompanied  by  his  page. 
David  was  concealed  in  this  suburban  garden  behind  the 
stone  pillar  of  Ezel,  as  had  been  previously  arranged 
between  them.  The  prince  carried  in  his  hand  a  bow 
and  a  quiver  of  arrows  as  if  he  were  to  practice  archery. 
The  place  was  full  in  sight  from  the  windows  of  the 
palace.  When  he  came  within  hearing  of  David,  he 
cried  to  the  lad,  "Run,  find  out  now  the  arrows  which  I 
shoot !" 

As  the  page  ran  forward,  he  shot  three  arrows  far 
beyond  him. 

It  had  previously  been  agreed  upon  by  Jonathan  with 
David,  that  if  he  heard  him  call  out  to  the  page,  "  The 
arrows  are  on  this  side  of  thee  !"  he  would  understand 
that  it  was  peace  between  his  father  and  him,  and  he 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      319 

might  return  into  his  house  without  fear ;  but  if  he  said, 
"  The  arrows  are  beyond  thec  !"  he  must  in  haste  make 
his  escape  ;  and  if  he  did  so  go  away,  he  must  not  forget 
his  vow  to  be  a  friend  to  his  kindred  for  the  sake  of  the 
love  between  them. 

When,  therefore,  the  page  hastened  after  the  arrows, 
the  prince  cried,  "  Is  not  the  arrow  beyond  thce  ?"  he 
then  added  for  the  ears  of  David,  still  addressing  the 
lad,  "Make  speed — haste — stay  not !"  The  page  made 
haste  to  gather  up  the  arrows,  not  suspecting  the  twofold 
signification  of  the  words  spoken  to  him.  David  heard 
and  understood  that  they  were  for  his  own  warning,  and 
knew,  thereby,  that  his  life  was  certainly  sought  by  the 
king.  When  the  youth  had  brought  again  the  arrows 
to  his  master,  he  said  to  him,  "  Go — take  the  bow  and 
quiver  within  the  gates,  and  await  my  coming." 

As  soon  as  the  page  had  disappeared,  Jonathan,  now 
that  he  had  turned  aside  suspicion  by  his  archery  pastime, 
went  forward,  and  David  met  him  at  a  place  where  they 
were  sheltered  from  the  palace  by  a  group  of  oleander 
trees. 

"My  lord,"  said  David,  with  looks  of  deep  sadness, 
"  I  am  then  to  be  an  exile  !  But  my  heart  is  full  of 
gratitude  to  thce  for  this  kind  warning."  As  he  spoke, 
feeling  his  own  loneliness  and  humiliation  as  an  outcast, 
he  bowed  himself  thrice  towards  the  earth,  as  was  the 
custom  of  petitioners  to  the  prince  or  the  king,  and  said, 
"  Say  farewell  to  my  beloved  bride  !  Comfort  her,  0 
my  lord  prince,  and  let  her  not  come  to  evil  from  the 
anger  of  the  king." 

"  Thou  shouldst  not  so  bow  lown  thyself  to  me,  0 
David  !  Let  not  thy  sorrow  break  thine  heart !  Forget 


320  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OK, 

not  that  thou  art  a  true  prince,  a  son  of  the  King  of 
kings,  crowned  of  God  !  This  humiliation  prompted  by 
thy  great  woes  becomes  not  thee  !  Be  courageous  !  I 
"will  defend  thy  wife  Michal  from  all  evil !  I  will  send 
thee  news  of  her  from  time  to  time.  Alas  !  alas  !  that  my 
father  should  seek  thy  life,  and  make  both  thee  and  me 
BO  unhappy  !  But  thou  art  no  longer  safe  in  Hebron, 
nor  anywhere  from  his  power,  for  he  will  seek  thee  as 
the  tireless  hunting  leopard  pursues  the  antelope.  Your 
only  shelter,  since  Samuel  could  not  protect  thee,  is  to 
fly  to  the  altar  of  God!" 

"  Thither  I  will  fly,"  sorrowfully  answered  David, 
44  till  this  calamity  be  overpast.  Ahimelech,  the  priest, 
will  receive  me,  and,  in  the  sacred  shadow  of  the  holy 
tabernacle,  not  the  sceptred  sword  of  Saul  can  reach 
me !" 

"  Oh,  that  I  could  retain  and  defend  thee  here  !"  said 
Jonathan.  "  But  God  will  be  with  thee  !  Blessed  are 
they  that  dwell  in  His  house,  and  sit  under  the  shadow 
of  his  footstool!" 

"I  am  weary  of  flying  from  this  death,"  said  David, 
with  deep  feeling.  "  My  heart  and  flesh  fail  me,  and  my 
soul,  like  a  dove  pursued  by  the  falcon,  now  longeth  for 
the  courts  of  the  Lord,  even  the  sheltering  and  peaceful 
altars  of  my  king  and  my  God !  There  I  shall  be  at 
rest!  There  even  the  spariows  find  shelter  from  the 
stormy  winds,  and  there  will  I  abide." 

Jonathan's  heart  swelled  as  he  listened  to  this  touching 
and  tender  language  ;  and  he  gazed  tearfully  on  the  pale 
and  suffering  visage  of  the  persecuted  yet  innocent  young 
man,  whom  he  loved  as  his  own  soul ;  and,  with  a  sudden 
outburst  of  grief,  he  threw  himnolf  upon  his  shoulder. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      321 

For  a  few  moments,  the  two  friends  stood,  locked  in  each 
other's  embrace,  weeping,  for  their  sorrows  were  one. 
At  length  Jonathan  kissed  his  friend  on  both  cheeks 
with  the  love  of  a  brother  for  a  sister.  This  lovely  ex 
pression  of  affection  and  tenderness  unmanned  the  heroic 
conqueror  of  Goliath.  He  fell  upon  his  friend's  breast, 
overcome  with  the  depth  and  tenderness  of  his  feelings, 
as  he  thought  of  his  double  separation,  both  from  his 
young  wife  and  the  brother  of  his  soul,  and  recalled  the 
deadly  enmity  of  him  who  caused  all  his  grief,  to  whom 
he  had  only  done  good.  Jonathan  felt  the  weight  of 
David's  form  suddenly  become  heavy  as  he  rested  upon 
his  breast,  and  looking  with  alarm  in  his  face,  he  saw 
that  he  had  fainted  away. 

With  a  cry  of  anguish,  and  bitter  thoughts  rising 
against  his  father,  he  gently  let  the  lifeless  form  of  his 
beloved  David  down  upon  the  green  grass.  The  suspen 
sion  of  life  was  but  momentary.  The  young  heart,  too 
full  of  its  woes,  was  not  crushed,  only  bruised.  The 
earnest,  kind,  entreating  voice  of  his  friend,  recalled  him 
to  consciousness.  He  rose  to  his  feet  stronger,  and  said, 

"  Forgive  me  !  I  am  greatly  afflicted.  The  sorrows 
of  death  have  compassed  me !  My  soul  cleaveth  even  to 
the  dust,  and  hath  melted  for  very  heaviness.  But  it 
is  past  now  !  I  can  put  my  trust  in  my  God  !  It  is  bet 
ter  to  trust  in  the  Lord  than  to  put  confidence  in  princes. 
The  king  hath  thrust  at  me  sore  that  I  might  perish  ; 
but  the  Lord  will  help  me  !  I  will  hasten  to  pay  my 
vows  to  the  Lord  in  his  tabernacle,  and  humble  myself 
before  his  footstool !  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  mo 
to  help  me,  and  he  hath  seen  my  tears,  and  will  give  me 
rest  and  peace  !  Farewell !  I  go  forth  weeping,  bearing 
21 


322  THE   THROVE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

precious  seed,  but  doubtless  I  shall  come  again  with  re 
joicing,  bringing  my  sheaves  with  me  !" 

"Truly,"  answered  the  prince,  "the  Highest  will  per 
fect  that  which  concerneth  thee  !  I  know  the  Lord  will 
preserve  thy  going  out,  and  thy  coming  in,  from  this 
time  forevermore  !  And  when  thou  art  in  power,  forget 
not  to  befriend  my  father's  house !  Go  in  peace,  my 
brother  !  May  thy  house  and  my  house  forever  be  ever 
as  Jonathan  and  David  !" 

"  May  my  name  be  cast  out  as  evil,  may  I  become  as 
Moab,  and  base  as  Ammon,  ere  I  forget  my  vow  to 
thee,  about  thee  and  thine,"  answered  the  houseless 
wanderer,  receiving  and  granting  prayers,  as  if  he  were 
already  seated  upon  the  throne  of  the  kingdom,  and 
Jonathan  stood  a  suppliant  at  his  footstool. 

A  few  more  words  of  tender est  affection,  and  the  two 
friends  folded  each  other  in  a  final  embrace ;  and,  silently 
disengaging  themselves,  they  separated;  David  going 
away  by  the  path  which  led  to  the  hills,  and  the  prince, 
(after  following  him  with  longing  looks  of  love,  as  the 
wanderer  often  glanced  affectionately  back  to  him,) 
slowly,  and  with  a  heavy  heart,  re-entered  the  city. 

Such,  your  majesty,  was  the  last  interview  and  part 
ing  of  these  two  noble  friends !  In  all  the  history  of 
the  past  such  a  pure  and  unselfish  friendship  is  un 
known  !  On  the  part  of  each,  it  was  surpassing  the  love 
of  women  !  How  tender,  how  delicate,  how  full  of  sweet 
and  holy  dignity  was  their  attachment !  If  one  is  to  be 
preferred  before  the  other,  perhaps  the  prince  deserves 
the  highest  admiration ;  for  he  loved  him,  who,  he  knew, 
was  to  deprive  him  of  his  throne !  loved  him  whom  his 
father  hated !  loved  him  homeless,  wandering,  outcast  ! 


THE    REBELLION    OF    P1UXCE    ABSALOM.  823 

trusted  in  him  in  his  humiliation  as  his  future  monarch, 
and  with  a  beautiful  faith,  plead  for  his  kindly  care  over, 
and  lasting  protection  of  his  mother,  his  brothers, 
and  sisters,  and  all  near  and  dear  to  them  and  to  him 
self  !  What  august  trust,  what  deathless  love,  what  sub 
lime  hope,  what  god-like  humility  !  Worthy  was  such  a 
prince  to  rule  in  his  father's  stead !  but  the  inexorable 
law  of  the  God  of  the  Hebrews,  written  on  the  sacred 
tablets  of  Moses,  kept  in  their  holy  Ark,  reads,  "  The 
sins  of  the  fathers  shall  be  visited  upon  the  children  unto 
the  third  and  fourth  generation  of  those  who  hate  me." 
This  virtuous  prince  is  therefore  sacrificed  for  the  guilt 
of  his  father ;  and  even  his  children's  children  may  feel 
the  evil  consecjuences  of  the  fierce  and  impious  king's 
folly,  sacrilege,  and  pride  of  heart !  Already  has  the 
first  blow  been  struck,  as  your  majesty  will  by  and  by 
learn  as  you  proceed  in  the  perusal  of  my  narrative. 

But  the  trials  of  this  prince  of  God,  David  the  son  of 
Jesse,  on  account  of  Saul,  were  not  yet  over ;  for  when 
he  had  reached  the  strong  place  called  Nob,  over  against 
Jerusalem  on  the  north,  to  which  place  the  tabernacle, 
or  high  temple  of  the  Hebrews,  had  recently  been  re 
moved  by  Saul,  and  which  hence  became  the  centre  of 
the  national  worship,  Ahimelech  feared  to  receive  him  for 
dread  of  the  king's  anger. 

This  temple  had  been  constructed  by  Moses  when  in 
the  wilderness,  and  after  a  pattern  sent  down  from  hea 
ven,  taken  from  a  celestial  house,  in  which  dwelt  from 
eternity  God  himself !  This  temple  was  erected  to  be  the 
palace  for  the  visible  presence  of  their  God,  as  their 
KING,  and  also  as  the  place  for  the  people  to  worship 
before  Him  !  I  have  already  alluded  to  it  in  a  previous 


324  THE    TilllONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

letter  to  your  majesty.  Its  magnificence  was,  and  is, 
(for  it  still  exists,  though  every  seven  years  its  hangings 
are  renewed  with  undiminished  splendor,)  of  the  most 
novel  and  elaborate  description.  It  was  constructed  in 
all  its  particulars  with  the  greatest  care,  as  every  part 
answered,  said  Moses,  to  something  in  heaven.  The 
costliness  of  it  was  incalculable,  and  defrayed  by  the  vol 
untary  gifts  of  the  Israelites,  who  brought  out  of  Egypt 
spoils  in  jewels  of  gold,  and  jewels  of  silver,  and  precious 
stones,  of  untold  wealth,  given  them  by  their  Lord,  who 
surrendered  to  them  the  riches  of  the  people  of  Egypt. 
The  architects  were  divinely  inspired.  I  will  describe 
to  your  majesty  this  wonderful  movable  temple  which  I 
saw  when  I  was  here  a  few  years  ago.  Nob  is  but  twelve 
miles  from  this  place,  Bethlehem,  where  I  now  sojourn. 
I  copy  from  a  description  which  I  wrote  at  the  time  for 
your  majesty,  and  now  have  by  me:  It  is  pitched  like  a 
pavilion  within  the  castle  of  Nob,  upon  a  broad  area,  en 
closed  by  the  dwellings  of  the  priests ;  the  chief  of  which 
is  the  Palace  of  Ahimelech,  now  occupied  by  his  son 
Abiathar,  who  hospitably  received  me,  and  suffered  me  to 
see  as  much  of  the  sacred  structure  as  was  permitted  to  a 
stranger.  A  space  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  length, 
and  seventy-five  feet  in  breadth,  is  enclosed  on  the  four 
sides  by  beautiful  brazen  pillars,  eight  feet  in  height,  ten 
at  the  ends,  and  twenty  at  the  sides,  sixty  in  all,  richly 
filleted  with  silver.  From  pillar  to  pillar  extend  rods, 
from  which  hang  fine  twined  linen  curtains  to  the  ground. 
This  parallelogram,  thus  curtained,  stands  east  and  west. 
The  entrance  is  on  the  east,  from  the  rising  sun,  and  on 
this  end  the  curtains  are  of  blue,  and  purple,  and  scarlet, 
and  pure  white  linen.  Crossing  the  soft  verdure  of  the 
plain,  which  is  kept  spotlessly  clean,  and  is  as  a  carpet 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      325 

of  velvet  to  the  tread  of  the  sandal,  I  was  conducted  by  a 
youthful  Levite  of  the  family  of  Abiathar,  to  this  eastern 
entrance,  beyond  and  over  which,  in  the  interior,  ap 
peared  the  Divine  Tabernacle,  or  Temple.  Leaving  my 
eandals  with  a  Levite  at  the  entrance,  another  drew  up 
with  silken  cords  the  brilliant  curtains  for  our  admission 
into  the  court,  enclosed  by  the  sixty  pillars.  Here  I 
stood,  and  contemplated  with  religious  awe  the  spectacle 
before  me  ! 

Immediately  in  front  of  the  entrance,  and  near  the 
centre  of  the  vast  area,  stood  the  brazen  altar  of  burnt- 
offering.  It  was  between  six  and  seven  feet  in  length, 
and  four  and  a  half  feet  high,  overlaid  with  massive 
plates  of  brass,  with  brazen-plated  horns  affixed  one  at 
each  corner.  The  perpetual  fire  which  had  been  kindled 
five  hundred  years  before,  by  a  torch  lighted  for  Moses 
for  this  purpose  by  the  angel  Gabriel,  at  the  altar  of 
heaven  when  the  Jewish  lawgiver  was  in  the  mount  of 
God  at  Horeb,  burned  thereupon,  fed  night  and  day  with 
fragrant  wood  by  attending  priests.  As  I  looked,  a  lamb 
just  slain  was  placed  upon  the  sacred  fire,  and  the  dark 
red  smoke  of  the  burnt-offering  rolled  high  above  the 
heads  of  the  priests,  and  was  borne  away  by  the  wind 
over  the  top  of  the  outer  wall  of  the  curtained  taberna 
cle,  to  mingle  with  the  sombre  cloud  which  almost  con 
stantly  hung  about  the  towers  of  Nob,  rendering  the 
"  city  of  sacrifice"  distinguishable  all  the  country  round 
as  the  "pavilion  of  God." 

I  was  permitted  to  go  near  and  examine  the  altar. 
It  was  hollow,  so  that  the  ashes  of  the  wood  that  burned 
on  the  iron  bars  upon  which  the  lamb  or  bullock  was 
laid,  foil  through  the  grate  into  a  huge  pan  beneath. 


326  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

leaving  the  roasted  sacrifice  upon  the  top.  Every  morn 
ing  and  evening  the  attending  Levites  in  linen  tunics, 
who  are  the  servants  of  the  priests  and  of  the  altar, 
and  taken  from  a  tribe  set  apart  by  Moses  for  these  holy 
duties,  draw  out  this  pan  of  ashes  and  empty  it  on  the  out 
side  of  the  tabernacle.  For  the  service  there  were  placed 
by  the  altar  shovels  of  brass,  and  tongs,  and  brazen 
hooks  to  turn  the  victim  on  the  fire,  and  vessels  to  re 
ceive  the  blood  as  it  poured  from  the  wound  in  the  victim 
made  by  the  sacrificial  knife  of  the  officiating  priest,  who 
is  of  necessity  to  be  a  descendant  of  the  High  Priest 
Aaron.  The  eldest  son  of  this  consecrated  family,  in 
succession  through  the  ages,  takes  this  lofty  rank  by  right 
of  birth  !  All  the  other  priests  are  descended  from 
Aaron  also,  but  by  younger  sons.  The  Levites  are  men 
who  are  sprung  from  Levi,  and  of  the  same  tribe  with 
Aaron,  kindred  of  the  priests,  but  inferior  to  them  in 
rank,  being  forbidden  to  sacrifice  or  offer  incense,  but 
only  to  serve  the  priests  and  tabernacle.  The  priests 
are  in  number  many  hundreds,  and  serve  by  companies 
or  courses  morning  and  evening,  while  the  Levites  are 
numbered  by  thousands.  [The  High  Priest,  at  the  time 
of  my  visit,  was  Abiathar,  also  called  Ben-Ahimelech, 
being  the  son  of  Ahimelech,  who  was  priest  when  I  was 
last  in  Judea,  and  whose  tragic  death  I  have  yet  to 
record.] 

Upon  this  high  altar  a  holocaust  of  sacrifices  bleed  con 
tinually,  nor  ceases  the  flow  of  innocent  blood  for  the 
sins  of  men  from  morning  until  evening.  As  with  us, 
a  part  of  the  victim  is  sacred  to  God,  a  part  given  to  the 
priest,  and  the  rest  of  the  flesh  distributed  among  the 
families  of  the  priests  by  His  command.  Upon  the  altar 


T1IE    REBELLION    OF   PKINCB   ABSALOM.  327 

four  kinds  of  sacrifices  are  offered,  termed  burnt-offer 
ings,  sin-offerings,  trespass-offerings,  and  peace-offerings.* 
The  first  three  are  expiatory :  that  is,  make  atonement 
for  the  transgressions  of  those  who  bring  the  victims 
The  poured-forth  blood  of  these  sacrifices  is  solemnly 
consecrated  to  the  Lord  of  heaven  to  be  an  expiation 
for  the  soul,  to  which  end  He  has  pledged  himself  to  re 
ceive  it.  The  peace-offering  is  a  thankful  sacrifice  to 
God  for  benefits.  There  are  free-will  or  voluntary 
offerings  that  depend  on  the  heart  and  piety  of  the  giver  ; 
and  obligatory  offerings,  such  as,  the  presentation  of  the 
first  sheaf,  the  first  lamb,  the  first  fruit  of  any  increase, 
with  the  natural  tithes  and  sin-offerings.  No  one  can 
avoid  these  last  two  without  guilt  and  punishment. 
Wine,  oil,  bread,  salt,  and  many  things  are  offered  to  the 
Lord  by  this  religious  people  ;  and,  as  every  thing  offered 
must  be  laid  upon  the  altar  by  the  priest,  the  concourse 
of  worshipers  to  the  tabernacle  is  every  day  very  great, 
and  the  immense  numbers  of  priests  on  duty  hardly  suf 
fice  to  serve  them.  This  is  emphatically  a  worshiping 
nation  !  Their  whole  life  and  polity  revolve  around  the 
altar  !  Sacrifice  is  the  centre  of  their  system. 

Their  most  extraordinary  sacrifice  is  that  of  the  Great 
Day  of  Expiation.  The  High  Priest,  on  this  occasion, 
oathes  with  unusual  attention  to  purity  of  person,  invests 
himself  in  a  plain  robe  of  white  linen  as  a  "penitent," 
laying  aside  his  purple  robe  and  ephod  of  office ;  as  first 
he  is  to  expiate  his  own  sins  as  a  man,  before  he  can  offer 
as  High  Priest  the  Great  Expiation  for  the  nation.  With 
solemnity  he  now  approaches  the  high  altar,  and  a  bullock 
and  a  ram  being  brought  before  him,  he  lays  his  hands 
*  Vide  first  seven  chapters  of  Leviticus. 


328  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

upon  the  heads  of  the  victims,  at  the  sanle  time  confess 
ing  his  sins  and  those  of  his  priestly  house,  by  which  act 
it  is  supposed  that  his  sins  and  those  of  the  priests,  by 
virtue  of  a  fore-gone  covenant  between  their  God  and 
them,  are  transferred  to  the  heads  of  the  brutes  about  to 
be  slain  !  He  then  slays  with  the  sacrificial  sword  these 
sin-laden  victims,  whose  blood  poured  out  unto  the  Lord 
is  to  expiate  the  sins  of  the  order  of  the  priesthood. 

The  High  Priest  is  now  regarded  holy,  his  sins  all 
washed  away  by  the  blood  of  the  victim,  and  he  is  now 
ready,  without  sin,  to  offer  sacrifice  acceptable  to  God 
for  the  people.  Two  of  the  most  venerable  elders  of  the 
nation  hereupon  bring  him  two  goats,  which  are  to  be 
victims  in  behalf  of  the  whole  nation.  Both  of  them, 
however,  are  not  to  bleed.  Lots  are  cast  by  the  priests 
to  ascertain  which  of  the  two  is  to  be  slain. 

But,  before  I  proceed  to  describe  to  your  majesty  one 
of  the  most  remarkable  features  of  this  sacrificial  expia 
tion,  I  will  narrate  what  I  further  beheld  within  the  four 
linen  walls  of  the  tabernacle.  Passing  reverently  the 
altar  of  burnt-offering,  I  came  to  a  gigantic  Laver  of 
elaborate  workmanship  standing  upon  brazen  feet  of 
lions.  Its  sides  were  of  brass,  so  brightly  polished  that 
they  served  the  priests  for  mirrors  wherein  to  see  to  re 
arrange  their  disordered  costume  when  they  came  there 
to  wash  after  sacrificing.  Here  several  priests  were  en 
gaged  performing  their  ablutions  preparatory  to  sacri 
ficing,  who  regarded  me  with  no  surprise,  as  I  was  attired 
like  the  Levites,  and  hence  attracted  no  particular  atten 
tion  in  the  vast  concourse  which  moved  in  and  out  and 
through  the  court  of  the  tabernacle. 

After  passing  the  magnificent  Laver,  I  saw  before  me, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      329 

about  fifty  feet  distant,  the  front  of  the  inner  or  true 
Tabernacle  of  God ;  for  where  I  now  stood  was  but  the 
enclosure  or  court  of  sacrifice,  enclosed  to  veil  by  the 
range  of  curtains  the  priests  and  their  offices  from  the 
common  eye.  But  the  real  TEMPLE  was  within  this  great 
court  and  before  me  !  It  was  about  ten  cubits  or  eigh 
teen  feet  broad  in  front,  and  as  many  high,  extending 
back  thirty  cubits  to  the  west  curtain  of  the  court  of  the 
tabernacle.  It  had  the  appearance  of  a  long  and  narrow 
pavilion,  with  five  pillars  in  front  overlaid  with  plates  of 
gold,  and  fixed  in  sockets  of  silver.  Across  these  five 
costly  pillars  was  partly  drawn  aside  a  magnificently  em 
broidered  curtain  of  the  richest  colors,  2;ivin£,  between  the 

'    O  O7 

columns,  a  glimpse  at  the  dark  and  mysterious  interior. 
Nearer  to  it  than  where  I  then  stood  I  was  not  permitted 
to  advance,  as  its  sacred  vicinity  is  forbidden  to  every 
foot  except  that  of  a  certain  class  of  priests.  It  is  called 
the  Sanctuary,  the  peculiar  abode  of  the  Hebrew's  God 
on  earth,  and  where  he  makes  his  Presence  visible  by  a 
bright  flame  which  floats  mid  air  above  the  inmost  altar 
of  its  most  secret  chamber.  Once  in  a  year  only  does 
a  human  tread  awake  its  solemn  echoes,  when  the  High 
Priest  on  the  Day  of  Expiation  enters  it  alone  ! 

Unlike  the  outer  curtained  wall  of  the  tabernacle,  this 
lesser  temple  within  it  is  enclosed  by  four  curtains  hang 
ing  over  side  walls  of  fragrant  wood  closely  ceiled,  save 
at  the  entrance,  where,  for  these  closed  sides,  stand  the 
five  columns  with  open  spaces  between.  "  Of  these  four 
curtains,"  said  my  guide,  describing  the  forbidden  temple 
to  me,  "the  first  and  inner  one  is  composed  of  fine  linen, 
richly  embroidered  by  the  cunning  art  of  needle-work 
with  figures  of  Cherubim,  (that  is,  your  majesty,  winged 


330          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

gods,)  in  exquisitely  arranged  shades  of  blue,  purple, 
and  scarlet.  This  magnificent  curtain  not  only  hangs 
along  the  two  sides  and  western  end,  but  it  extends  over 
head,  forming  the  expanded  ceiling  as  well  as  the  walls, 
and  "a  gorgeous  and  glorious  inner  roof  does  this  exten 
sion  make  with  its  tasteful  borders  and  the  beautiful 
central  figures.  This  inner  covering  of  the  sacred  tent 
is  all  covered  by  a  curtain  of  closely  woven  goats'  hair  to 
exclude  from  it  dust  and  damp,  by  a  third  of  carefully 
dressed  leather  of  rams'  skins  dyed  red,  and  by  a  fourth 
of  skins  skillfully  prepared  to  shed  rain,  also  colored  in 
the  richest  manner,  and  lending  to  this  singular  temple 
an  aspect  of  novel  magnificence.  The  front  before  which 
I  stood  had  separate  curtains  of  the  most  beautiful  em 
broidery,  which  could  be  raised  for  admission  or  lowered 
so  as  to  rest  upon  the  ground. 

The  interior  of  this  celestial  pavilion  is  divided  into 
two  apartments,  by  means  of  four  pillars  of  precious 
wood,  overlaid  with  plates  of  gold,  and  standing  in 
sockets  of  silver.  Upon  these  pillars  is  hung  a  heavy 
and  ample  veil  of  blue,  purple,  ^and  scarlet  fine-twined 
linen.  The  outer  apartment  of  the  pavilion  occupies 
two-thirds  of  the  interior  area,  and  is  called  the  "  Holy 
Place;"  while  the  remaining  lesser  space  is  named,  (ever 
spoken  by  Hebrews  with  awe,)  the  "HOLY  of  HOLIES." 
This  sacred  interior  chamber  ever  remains  in  myste 
rious  darkness,  save  the  soft  illumination  which  perpetually 
glows  within,  beaming  from  a  visible  Glory  resting  above 
the  altar,  whereby  their  God  manifests  his  awful  presence. 
This  holy  Light  is  said,  by  some,  to  appear  like  a  lam 
bent  flame;  by  others,  like  a  serene  star;  by  others,  like 
a  fiery  blaze ;  but  no  man  has  ever  beheld  it  save  the 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      331 

High  Priest,  whose  lips  are  forever  sealed  as  to  what  he 
beholds  in  that  dreadful  and  glorious  sanctuary — the 
visible  terrestrial  throne  of  God.  Thus  much,  however, 
is  known  that  the  splendor  or  obscurity  of  this  presence 
of  fire  within  the  Holy  of  Holies,  is  affected  by  the 
holiness  or  wickedness  of  the  nation ;  hence,  at  times  it 
may  blaze  like  angry  lightning,  or  shine  suhdued  and 
soft  like  the  evening  star.  This  glorious  visible  mani 
festation  is  said,  by  Abiathar,  to  be  the  continuation  of 
the  divine  presence  of  the  Pillar  of  Fire  ;  which  once,  a 
column  of  splendor  rising  above  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant, 
lighted  up  the  whole  camp  of  Israel  in  the  wilderness, 
now,  with  lesser  star-like  glory,  limited  to  the  inner  sanc 
tuary  of  this  Most  Holy  Place,  is  still  shining  above 
the  same  ARK  of  the  Covenant. 

Are  not  these  wonderful  mysteries,  your  majesty  ? 
How  sublime,  how  awe-inspiring  the  idea  that  this  lamp 
of  God  has  continued  to  burn  since  it  took  the  form  of 
the  fiery  Pillar  until  now  in  the  luminous  Shechinah !  and 
will  shine  on  from  generation  to  generation  as  a  token 
of  their  God's  presence  with  them,  "unless,*'  as  the  High 
Priest  sorrowfully  said  to  me,  "  the  nation  forgets  God 
and  commits  gross  iniquity,  when  the  divine  light  will 
suddenly  go  out  and  leave  the  inner  temple  in  darkness 
forever." 

There  is,  your  majesty,  believed  to  be  a  prophecy 
which  pronounces  that  such  extinction  will  take  place  at 
the  close  of  a  period  of  seven  hundred  years  from  the 
first  king  that  reigns  over  Israel.  That  after  more  than 
three  hundred  years  of  darkness  and  humiliation,  there 
shall  descend  an  angel  from  the  upper  heaven,  bearing  a 
star,  with  which  he  will  alight  upon  one  of  the  hills  of 


332  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID  ;    OR, 

Bethlehem,  when  the  last  Prince  of  the  House  of  Israel 
shall  then  be  an  infant  in  its  cradle,  who  will  rise,  and 
by  inspiration,  seize  it  from  the  hand  of  the  angel,  and 
suddenly  entering  the  temple,  once  more  light  up  there 
with  the  glory  of  the  inner  House,  and  illuminate  the 
whole  earth  with  the  dazzling  splendor  of  the  rekindled 
Shechinah. 

There  being  no  window,  and  strictly  no  door  but  the 
raised  curtain  on  the  east  front  in  the  tabernacle,  and  as 
in  the  outer  apartment  there  are  services  performed  at 
the  Altar  of  Incense  therein  by  the  priests,  it  is  neces 
sary  to  have  lights.  Moses,  therefore,  directed  to  be 
made  a  Candlestick  of  pure  gold  with  seven  branches, 
one  in  the  centre,  five  feet  in  height,  and  three  on  each 
side,  of  similar  proportions,  with  equal  spaces  between. 
They  are  represented  by  Abiathar  as  very  elegant  in 
form,  each  one  adorned  with  golden  flowers,  and  lilies  of 
raised  work,  and  with  apple-shaped  knops,  and  almonds 
of  wrought  gold.  Instead  of  cups  for  candles,  upon  the 
end  of  each  branch  is  a  gold  lamp.  These  lamps  are  fed 
with  pure  olive  oil,  and  lighted  every  evening  at  sunset, 
and  all  but  the  west  one  extinguished  at  sunrise  by  the 
priests  on  duty. 

This  golden,  seven-branched  lamp,  stands  on  the  left 
of  one  entering  the  Holy  Place,  while  on  the  right  of  the 
entrance,  is  an  elegantly  shaped  table,  called  the  Table 
of  Shew  Bread.  Between  these  two  objects,  and  in  front 
of  the  curtained  entrance,  stands  the  Altar  of  Incense  ! 
The  seven-branched  candlestick  is  so  placed  as  to  throw 
its  light  upon  the  Altar  of  Incense,  and  upon  the  golden 
table  of  Shew  Bread  at  the  right  of  the  entrance.  This 
beautiful  table,  which  is  about  three  feet  and  a  half  long. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      333 

and  two  feet  and  a  half  high,  is  overlaid  with  plates  of 
pure  gold  of  Ophir,  and  a  border  or  crown  of  gold  a 
hand  breadth  high  surrounds  the  top ;  and  at  each  cor 
ner  are  four  rings  of  gold,  to  contain  the  bars  of  sacred 
wood  by  which  the  priests  bear  it  from  place  to  place : 
upon  it  are  vessels,  and  dishes,  and  spoons  of  gold. 
Upon  this  table,  every  seventh  day,  the  Priest  places 
twelve  loaves  of  unleavened  bread,  covered  with  leaves 
of  gold,  the  number  representing  the  twelve  tribes  of 
the  Hebrew  nation,  in  whose  behalf  this  extraordinary 
perpetual  offering  is  made  to  their  Lord.  Wine  is  also 
placed  as  an  offering  upon  the  same  table,  also  salt  and 
incense  at  certain  times.  These  loaves  are  separated  by 
dishes  of  gold,  so  that  air  may  come  to  the  bread,  and 
mould  be  prevented.  Every  Sabbath  four  priests  go  first 
into  the  Holy  Place,  and  take  away  the  twelve  loaves 
which  have  remained  there  seven  days,  presented,  or 
shetvn  before  the  Lord,  and  other  four  follow  and  replace 
them  instantly  with  twelve  others,  hot  from  the  oven : 
thus  the  table  is  never  without  bread  before  the  Lord. 
The  cakes  of  bread  are  placed  six  in  a  pile  near  each 
end  of  the  table,  and  between  is  a  richly  chased  vase 
with  a  golden  cover,  and  containing  sweet  incense.  The 
bread  removed  becomes  a  portion  of  the  daily  bread  of 
the  officiating  priest,  by  whom  alone  it  is  lawful  to  be 
eaten.  The  purpose  of  keeping  this  bread  in  the  pres 
ence  of.  and  always  "shewn  to,  the  Lord,"  was  in 
grateful  remembrance  of  his  care  in  ripening  their  har 
vest  :  in  a  word,  it  may  be  called  a  continual  thank- 
offering,  that  famine  hath  not  fallen  upon  the  land ;  and 
is  a  beautiful  and  appropriate  recognition  of  the  good 
providence  of  their  God.  Abiathar  termed  the  loaves 


334  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

"  the  presence  Bread,"  because  it  was  always  present 
before  the  "Lord  of  the  Harvest." 

The  Altar  of  Incense,  which  is  also  called  the  Golden 
Altar,  stands  farther  in  from  the  entrance  than  the 
golden  candlestick,  and  golden  table,  between  which  two 
the  Priest  passes  to  approach  the  Altar  of  Incense, 
which  is  very  small,  being  but  eighteen  inches*  square, 
and  three  feet  high.  It  is  overlaid  with  gold,  golden 
horns  project  from  the  corner,  connected  by  an  open 
work  border  of  gold,  the  whole  very  rich  and  elegant. 
Golden  rings  are  also  attached  to  its  sides,  to  hold  the 
rods  by  which  it  is  carried  by  the  priests ;  for  the  taber 
nacle,  temple,  altars,  tables,  and  all  the  furniture  apper 
taining  thereto  are  portable,  and  so  constructed  as  to  be 
taken  to  pieces  and  put  together  again ;  and  in  this  man 
ner  have  changed  places  from  city  to  city  several  times 
since  they  were  first  placed  at  Gilgal,  after  the  crossing 
of  the  Jordan.  It  was  exposed  thereby  to  capture,  and 
its  Ark  was,  a  generation  ago,  actually  seized  and  carried 
off  by  the  Philistines,  who,  terrified  by  the  judgments  it 
brought  upon  them,  were  glad  to  send  it  back.  It  is  in 
intention  to  remove  the  whole  tabernacle  once  for  all  to 
Jerusalem,  when  the  Jebusites  shall  be  driven  out  of  its 
southern  castle,  which  ere  long  will  be  effected  by  him 
who  now  wields  the  sceptre  of  this  kingdom ! 

Upon  the  golden  Altar  of  Incense,  the  most  fragrant 
incense  is  burned  morning  and  evening  perpetually. 
Neither  burnt-offering,  meat-offering,  nor  drink-offering, 
is  permitted  on  this  Altar,  which  is  never  stained  with 
blood,  save  but  one  day  in  the  year,  when  the  High 
Priest  makes  atonement  on  the  great  Day  of  Expiation  ; 
to  whicli  subject  I  shall  now  soon  return,  delaying  only 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      335 

to  add  a  few  words  about  the  inner  sanctuary,  the  HOLY 
<JF  HOLIES,  which  is  ever  hidden  from  mortal  eyes,  save 
on  that  one  Day  of  Expiation,  when  the  Chief  Priest,  in 
the  execution  of  this,  the  most  solemn  and  awful  duty 
of  his  high  office,  removes  the  terrible  vail  and  disap 
pears  within,  and  stands  alone  with  God !  What  does  he 
behold  therein  ? 

"With  reverence,"  says  the  younger  brother  of  Abm- 
thar,  who  was  part  of  the  time  my  guide,  "  these  holy 
things  may  be  spoken  of!"  From  him  I  learned  as  fol 
lows  :  In  this  Most  Holy  Place  are  the  Ark  of  the  Cove 
nant,  the  Mercy-Seat,  and  the  Cherubim.  That  won 
derful  Ark  !  That  consecrated  Coffer,  which,  borne  on 
the  shoulders  of  twelve  priests,  stayed  and  held  back 
Jordan  "upon  an  heap,"  is  preserved  behind  that  myste 
rious  curtain  !  It  is  a  sacred  chest  three  feet  and  three 
quarters  in  length,  and  two  feet  and  a  quarter  in  width 
and  height.  It  was  made  in  the  wilderness  under  the 
eye  of  Moses,  covered  with  plates  of  gold,  and  rimmed 
with  gold.  The  lid  is  a  plate  of  purest  gold,  seven  times 
purified,  and  is  termed  the  MERCY-SEAT,  and  is  the 
holiest  point  on  earth  I  At  each  end  of  this  golden  lid 
and  upon  it,  are  two  figures  of  glorious  heavenly  crea 
tures  called  Cherubim,  with  golden  wings,  which,  as  they 
face  each  other  inwardly,  looking  down  upon  the  Ark, 
are  curved  forward,  and  meet  above  the  Mercy-Seat, 
forming  a  throne,  where,  in  rays  of  divine  splendor  ap 
pears  the  mysterious  symbol  of  the  Presence  of  God, 
shining  in  glory  unspeakable;  illumining  the  Mercy-Seat 
and  guarding  Cherubim,  and  filling  the  secret  cham 
ber  of  the  Holv  cf  Holies  with  light  ineffable,  before 


336  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

which  the  High  Priest  veils  his  eyes,  and  prostrates  him 
self  with  fear  and  trembling. 

Your  majesty  will  pardon  me  for  entering  so  fully 
into  this  description ;  but  in  order  to  understand  this 
people,  it  is  necessary  to  understand  their  religion.  How 
wonderful  is  their  worship !  How  sublime,  how  glo 
rious,  how  dreadful  is  their  God  ! 

Within  this  Ark  are  placed  a  golden  vase,  in  which 
is  preserved  some  of  the  manna  or  heavenly  bread  which 
sustained  their  fathers  in  the  wilderness;  the  divine  rod 
of  their  first  High  Priest,  Aaron,  which  miraculously 
budded  and  blossomed  at  once,  and  the  two  tables  of  the 
Law  or  Covenant,  written  with  the  finger  of  their  God 
in  the  Mount  of  Horeb ;  and  hence  the  appellation  of  the 
sacred  chest. 

Your  majesty  will  be  surprised  that  a  powerful  and 
opulent  people  should,  for  nearly  five  hundred  years,  be 
contented  to  worship  and  sacrifice  in  a  temple  of  this 
frail  description ;  which,  while  they  were  wanderers  in 
the  desert,  was  appropriate  to  their  circumstances ;  but 
which,  now  that  they  are  established  in  their  kingdom, 
seems  to  be  illy-adapted  to  their  permanent  condition. 
But  their  adherence  to  it,  because  the  pattern  of  it  was 
given  them  by  their  God,  and  it  was  erected  by  Moses, 
is  a  beautiful  illustration  of  their  piety  and  reverence 
for  the  old  paths  in  which  their  fathers  walked. 

I  will  now,  your  majesty,  proceed  to  the  completion 
of  my  account  of  the  scenes  and  acts  of  the  great  Day 
of  Expiation,  all  of  which  will  now  be  intelligible  to 
you,. 

When  the  High  Priest,  by  lot,  has  ascertained  which 
of  the  two  goats  brought  to  him  is  to  be  sacrificed,  he 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM      337 

receives  a  censer  from  an  attendant,  puts  therein  burn 
ing  coals  of  sacred  fire  from  the  Altar  of  burnt-oifering, 
and  taking  sweet  incense  in  his  hand,  he  solemnly  moves 
towards  the  Holy  Place  alone,  while  all  the  priests  and 
people  stand  in  attitudes  of  silent  reverence. 

He  enters  with  awe  the  outer  chamber  of  the  sacred 
pavilion  of  his  God,  and  passing  between  the  golden 
Candlestick  and  table  of  shew-bread,  leaves  the  Altar  of 
Incense  behind  him  with  its  ever-smoking  censer  thereon, 
filling  the  place  with  fragrance,  and  stands  before  the 
mysterious  Vail,  which,  for  three  hundred  and  sixty-four 
days,  no  mortal  hand  has  lifted.  He  pauses,  perhaps 
turns  pale  with  holy  dread,  as  he  slowly  raises  the  cur 
tain  of  God's  Holy  Abode.  He  hesitates — enters — 
dares  to  enter — because  he  is  commanded  to  enter. 

If  the  nation,  of  which  he  is  High  Priest,  has  been, 
the  year  past  obedient  and  virtuous,  he  beholds  the  mys 
terious  Glory  of  the  Shechinah,  enthroned  above  the 
Mercy-Seat,  resplendent  and  serene ;  but  if  the  people 
have  greatly  sinned,  it  shines  with  a  pale  light.  lie 
hastens  immediately  to  cast  the  incense  from  his  hand 
upon  the  coals  of  fire  in  the  censer,  the  smoke  of  which 
at  once  ascends  and  covers  the  Mercy-Seat,  and  veils 
the  glory  of  God  above  it,  or  he  would  die  with  the 
sight.  Having  thus  by  the  offering  of  incense  filled  the 
holy  sanctuary  with  the  sacred  and  sweet  fragrance  ac- 
.ceptable  to  his  God,  he  slowly  retires  and  re-appears, 
his  face  and  garments  all  resplendent,  before  the  great 
Altar  of  burnt-offering,  on  which  he  had  sacrificed  the 
bullock.  With  a  sacred  vessel  appertaining  to  the  altar, 
he  takes  up  a  portion  of  its  blood  and  returns  again  to 

the  Sanctuary,  and,  going  within  the  Tail,  sprinkles  it, 

22 


338         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

with  his  finger  dipped  in  the  blood,  before  the  Mercy* 
Seat,  seven  times.  He  now  returns  a  second  time  to 
the  Great  Altar,  and  taking  the  one  of  the  two  goats 
which  is  to  be  slain,  he  sacrifices  it  thereon.  When  this 
is  done,  all  the  priests  leave  the  tabernacle,  he  alone  re 
maining.  The  blood  of  the  goat  he  now  puts  in  a  sacred 
vessel,  and  bears  it  into  the  inner  Sanctuary,  and  sprinkles 
it  seven  times,  also  before  the  Ark  and  the  Mercy-Soat, 
and  before  the  Lord  of  Glory.  Thence  he  returns  to  the 
court  of  the  Tabernacle,  sprinkling  the  sides  of  it  as  he 
comes,  in  order  to  purify  it  with  the  blood  of  the  goat. 
Then  advancing  to  the  High  Altar,  he  wets  the  four 
golden  horns  thereof  with  the  blood  of  the  young  bul 
lock  and  of  the  goat,  and  sprinkles  it  seven  times  there 
with. 

The  Sanctuary,  the  Court,  and  the  Altar  of  burnt- 
offering  being  thus  purified,  the  priests,  who  are  not  per 
mitted  to  remain  during  these  ceremonies  of  purification, 
are  re-admitted ;  and,  at  his  command,  the  other  goat  is  now 
brought  to  him.  In  the  most  impressive  manner  he  puts 
his  hand  on  its  head,  and  aloud  confesses  his  own  sins 
and  the  sins  of  the  people  thereon,  thereby  solemnly  af 
fixing  to  the  victim  their  personal  guilt.  The  goat,  thus 
accursed  with  bearing  the  transgressions  of  a  whole 
nation,  is  handed  over  to  a  base  person,  who  is  angrily 
driven  forth  with  it  to  the  desert,  where  he  is  to  let  it 
escape.  The  High  Priest,  in  the  meanwhile,  puts  off 
his  penitential  garments,  bathes  again  at  the  Laver  of 
the  Tabernacle,  and  resuming  his  robe  of  purple,  hia 
ephod,  and  other  insignia  of  his  rank,  sacrifices  two 
rams,  and  offers  them  smoking  to  heaven,  one  as  a  burnt- 
offering  for  himself,  and  the  other  for  the  nation.  Thus 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      3C9 

terminates,  your  majesty,  the  chief  ceremonies  of  the 
great  Day  of  Expiation  which  is  also  held  as  a  day  of 
rest  and  of  rigid  fast  by  all  the  people. 

"There  is  a  profound  and  divine  signification  to  all 
these  extraordinary  rites,"  says  Abiathar.  "They  teach 
symbolically  that,  in  the  coming  ages,  a  wonderful  man 
with  two  natures,  (symbolized  by  the  two  goats,)  divine 
and  human,  shall  appear  in  Israel  to  deliver  the  nation 
from  a  great  bondage  into  which  it  will  fall.  In  his 
human  nature  he  will  consent  to  die  for  the  guilt  of  the 
people,  to  reconcile  them  to  God,  and  will  be  slain  by  the 
High  Priest  as  the  goat  was ;  but  in  his  divine  nature  he 
will  live,  receive  upon  his  head  the  sins  of  the  world,  and 
carry  them  forever  away  in  his  own  person,  so  that  they 
shall  no  more  be  found  to  appear  against  men  ! 

"  His  blood  as  man,  he  will  sprinkle  before  the  Mercy- 
Seat  in  the  Upper  Heaven,  to  make  atonement  to  God 
there  in  the  celestial  Holy  of  Holies  for  his  people;  and 
in  his  divine  nature  he  will  ever  stand  before  the  Ark  of 
the  Covenant  in  Heaven,  to  make  prayers,  offer  incense, 
and  intercede  for  the  whole  earth !  For  his  reward  he 
will  be  crowned  King  of  all  kings,  inspired  above  all 
Prophets,  and  invested  with  the  High  Priesthood  of  the 
Great  Temple  of  God  in  Heaven,  of  which  the  Tabernacle 
and  its  Sanctuary  here  below  are  but  the  faint  type  and 


image !" 


Such,  your  majesty,  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  record  I 
made  three  years  ago,  and  which  I  have  here  carefully 
copied  for  you,  of  the  chief  religious  ceremonies  of  this  re 
markable  people,  where  all  is  done,  not  so  much  for  itself,  as 
to  typify  something  yet  in  the  future  far  more  glorious ! 

I  will,  in  my  next  letter,  your  majesty,  return  to  tho 


340  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OB, 

fortunes  of  the  fugitive  young  shepherd  David,  who, 
flying  from  the  persecution  of  King  Saul,  bent  his  steps 
towards  the  sacred  city  of  the  Tabernacle,  to  seek  shelter 
at  its  altar,  and  protection  from  its  High  Priest,  the 
venerable  Ahimelech ;  for  in  all  lands  there  is  a  sacred 
right  associated  with  the  Sanctuary,  that  human  power, 
however  lawless,  has  never  ceased  to  recognize  and  re 
spect. 

Your  faithful  friend  and  cousin, 

ARBACES. 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  3-il 


LETTER    XI. 

ARBACES  TO  THE  KING  OF  ASSYRIA. 

BETHLEHEM,  PALACE  OF  JOAB. 

YOUR  MAJESTY: 

.THE  brief  visit  alluded  to  in  my  last  letter,  which 
three  years  since  I  paid  to  the  Holy  City  of  Nob,  gave 
me  a  deeper  insight  into  the  Hebrew  people,  than  I 
have  derived  from  all  my  former  experiences  and  ob 
servations.  As  I  left  the  house  of  Abiathar  to  return 
to  Bethlehem,  the  perpetual  holocaust  of  the  lamb  sacri 
ficed  every  morning,  (and  a  lamb  also  every  evening,)  was 
just  slain  and  laid  upon  the  altar,  slowly  to  consume  by 
a  low-kept  fire  all  day,  that  the  smoke  of  the  burnt- 
offering  might  continually  ascend  to  appease  the  Powers 
of  heaven.  The  officiating  priest  had  poured  the  cup  of 
wine  on  the  victim,  emptied  his  vase  of  pure  oil  upon  its 
head,  and  sprinkled  its  body  with  the  finest  flour,  when 
Abiathar  came  forth  from  the  Tabernacle  and  joined  me, 
saying  he  would  walk  with  me  a  few  furlongs  on  my 
way.  Were  I  to  record,  your  majesty,  his  interesting 
conversation,  I  should  give  you  a  history  of  all  the  rites 
and  ceremonies  of  the  Hebrews  ;  but  as  I  intend  only  to 
narrate  what  will  afford  you  such  information  as  will 
enable  you  to  have  an  intelligent  appreciation  of  this 
people,  I  shall  not  repeat  any  of  his  words.  I  will. 


342  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

therefore,  return  to  the  friend  of  Prince  Jonathan,  in 
whose  varied  fortunes  I  know  you  take  a  deep  interest. 

David  had  proceeded  but  a  few  miles  on  his  way  to 
wards  Nob,  which  is  thirty  miles  north  of  Hebron,  when 
he  came  to  a  grove  of  palms,  under  which  was  a  well. 
Here,  seeing  only  maidens  with  their  pitchers,  he  ap 
proached,  and  sat  down  to  rest  a  little  ways  off  in  the 
shade.  Two  of  the  virgins,  who  dwelt  in  a  village  close 
at  hand,  who  came  to  the  well  for  water,  after  observing 
him  a  little  while,  spoke  together,  and  then  blushingly 
drew  near  him,  one  who  was  about  sixteen,  carrying  her 
pitcher,  and  the  other,  a  lovely  child  of  fourteen,  holding 
in  her  hand  a  basket  of  dates  and  figs,  which  she  had 
just  gathered  not  far  off  to  take  to  her  home.  The 
youngest  and  most  beautiful  of  the  two,  smiling  with  a 
kind  benevolent  expression  in  her  soft  eye,  said, 

"  Young  stranger,  you  look  tired,  and  I  dare  say  have 
traveled  far !  Will  you  eat  some  of  these  very  nice  dates 
and  figs?" 

The  older  girl,  all  confusion  and  less  self-possessed 
than  the  other,  then  let  down  her  pitcher  of  water  from 
her  head,  and  said,  with  charming  embarrassment,  in  which 
kindness  struggled  sweetly  with  maiden  bashfulness : 

"  You  have  no  pitcher.  Will  you  drink  from  mine, 
Bir?" 

The  young  wanderer  and  exile  flying  for  his  life,  and 
feeling  sad  and  desolate,  was  touched  by  this  unlooked- 
for  kindness  in  these  beautiful  strangers,  and  answered, 
with  a  vain  effort  to  keep  back  his  tears : — 

u  The  Lord  hath  sent  you  as  he  sent  of  old  his  angels 
to  our  father  Jacob.  I  accept  the  dates,  for  I  am  hun» 
gry,  and  will  drink  the  water,  for  I  am  thirsty!" 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      343 

When  he  had  refreshed  himself,  he  asked  their  names. 

"I,"  said  the  taller  and  older  maiden,  "am  called 
Abigail,  and  dwell  in  this  village." 

"But,"  said  the  other,  archly,  "she  will  not  long 
dwell  there,  for  she  is  betrothed  to  rich  young  Nabal  of 
Judah,  and  is  soon  to  be  married  and  go  to  Mount  Car- 
mel  to  dwell." 

"Nay,  but  thou  art  forward  to  give  thy  informa 
tion,  Bathsheba,"  said  the  comely  young  woman  with 
crimson  cheeks;  and  covering  her  face  with  her  veil 
she  hid  her  confusion  from  the  eyes  of  the  handsome 
shepherd. 

"Thy  name  is  Bathsheba,  then?"  he  asked  of  the 
smiling  little  maid. 

"  Yes,  daughter  of  Ammiel,  sir !"  she  answered.  "What 
is  thy  name?" 

"  David  !"  he  replied  ;  and  seeing  horsemen  approach 
ing  he  rose  to  go,  thanking  the  two  young  maidens,  and 
promising  he  should  always  recollect  their  kindness. 

He  walked  rapidly  on,  thinking  of  the  pleasant  inter 
view,  until  he  came  to  an  eminence  whence,  looking  back, 
he  saw  that  the  three  men  who  had  stopped  awhile  at 
the  well  wrere  galloping  towards  him.  He  hastened  to 
the  rocks  for  concealment,  when  he  recognized  in  the 
leading  rider  one  of  his  own  body-guard,  who  waved  his 
hand  to  him.  The  fugitive  stopped  until  three  young 
men  of  his  acquaintance  came  up  to  him,  and,  all  alight 
ing,  each  one  saluted  him  with  friendly  warmth  and  re 
spect.  The  eldest  was  a  graceful  and  intelligent  young 
man,  called  Ahithophel,  famous  for  his  wit  and  scholar 
ship,  as  well  as  for  his  attachment  to  David  ;  the  next,  a 
brave  soldier  and  captain  of  horse,  named  Uriah  of  Heth, 


344  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

a  dark,  handsome  young  man,  with  Canaanitish  blood  in 
his  veins,  but  a  Hebrew  from  choice,  who  had  fought 
thrice  against  the  Philistines  under  David  in  his  late 
battles,  and  admired  him  with  true  military  devotion. 
The  third  was  a  kind-hearted,  devoted,  and  courageous 
Hebrew  youth,  Hushai,  who  greatly  esteemed  David  for 
his  bravery  and  virtues,  though  he  was  not  a  soldier  him 
self,  only  a  rich,  young  citizen  of  Hebron,  son  of  the 
chief  lord  of  the  king's  treasury. 

All  three  knew  of  Saul's  persecution  of  David,  and 
were  indignant,  and  felt  for  him ;  and  when  they  heard 
from  Prince  Jonathan  that  he  had  fled  from  the  king, 
they  consulted  together  and  agreed  to  follow  him  and 
join  their  fortunes  to  his.  When  David  learned  that 
they  had  come  after  him  for  this  kind  purpose,  he  would 
have  sent  them  back,  but  they  would  not  be  prevailed 
upon  to  leave  him ;  and  as  one  of  them,  Uriah,  had, 
thoughtfully,  brought  along  with  him  David's  own  horse, 
one  of  the  two  presented  to  him  by  me,  the  young  exile 
mounted  the  noble  animal,  and,  gratefully  acknowledging 
their  kindness,  thankfully  accepted  their  company  and 
protection,  which,  as  they  were  all  three  well  armed,  was 
not  to  be  despised. 

The  four  mounted  men  now  rode  rapidly  forward. 
Said  Uriah,  as  he  galloped  along  by  his  friend  David's 
side: 

u  It  was  by  the  information  of  two  little  maidens  at 
the  well  we  knew  that  you  were  in  advance  of  us,  noble 
captain.  Upon  my  inquiring  if  such  a  person  as  thyself 
had  been  seen,  the  younger  replied  that  a  young  stranger 
had  been  there,  and  asked  if  '  the  person  we  sought  waa 
named  David?'  I  replied  that  it  was  his  name.  She 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PKLXCE  ABSALOM.      345 

then  said,  '  If  you  are  his  friends,  I  will  tell  you  which 
way  he  went ;  but  if  his  enemies,  I  will  not  open  my  lips, 
for  he  is  so  good  and  looked  so  brave,  and  yet  so  sad, 
too,  and  he  is  so  handsome!'  I  assured  the  beautiful 
little  girl  that  we  were  your  friends,  and  had  brought 
the  fine  horse  which  I  led  for  you  to  ride.  She  then 
told  me  the  way  you  had  taken.  I  was  so  pleased  with 
the  lovely  and  vivacious  maid  that  I  asked  her  name, 
and  when  she  told  me  she  was  the  daughter  of  Ammiel, 
I  claimed  her  as  my  remote  kinswoman,  as  Ammiel  is 
my  mother's  second  cousin. •  The  little  virgin  would 
have  stolen  my  heart  had  she  been  three  years  older," 
added  the  blunt,  manly  young  soldier,  with  a  smile  ;  "  as 
it  was,  I  gave  her  a  piece  of  my  silver  chain,  and  told  her, 
smilingly,  not  to  forget  the  man-at-arms,  Uriah,  the  Ilit- 
tite,  who  would  one  day  come  from  the  wars  and  woo 
her!" 

Thus  the  party  rode  on,  each  one  trying  by  conversa 
tion  to  cheer  up  the  spirits  of  their  beloved  captain  and 
honored  friend,  until  they  had  passed  Bethlehem,  and 
got  into  the  deep  valley  under  the  castle  of  the  Jebusites. 
Here  they  were  about  to  be  met  by  a  party  of  the  king's 
troops,  to  escape  the  notice  of  which,  they  turned  back 
and  remained  in  the  hills  of  Bethlehem  all  night.  The 
next  morning,  they  found  that  the  whole  country  was 
full  of  armed  parties  searching  for  David  by  the  command 
of  Saul.  The  four  friends,  therefore,  prudently  resolved 
to  remain  among  the  mountains  and  keep  concealed 
during  the  day.  The  following  night,  they  made  secretly 
a  circuit  around  Jerusalem  on  the  cast  side,  and  remained 
in  Mount  Ephraim  that  day.  The  next  night,  by  the 
light  of  the  moon,  they  came  under  the  walls  of  the  holy 


346          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

city  of  Nob.  Here  they  were  compelled  to  remain  until 
the  sunrise-trumpet  sounded  for  opening  the  gateSj  when, 
weary,  hungry,  and  thirsty,  having  been  for  two  days 
and  two  nights  without  food,  they  entered  the  city.  As 
they  were  riding  towards  the  house  of  Ahimelech,  the 
Chief  Priest,  Ahithophel  suddenly  cried,  "  Do  I  not  be 
hold  Doeg,  the  Edomite,  the  king's  armor-bearer  ?" 

David,  looking  up,  saw  the  man  named,  crossing  the 
square  of  the  Tabernacle  with  two  men  by  his  side.  Their 
backs  were  to  him  ;  but  he  at  once  feared  that  Saul  had 
sent  him  to  take  him  even  there ;  and,  bidding  his  com 
panions  follow  him,  he  galloped  on  quickly  to  the  front 
of  the  Tabernacle,  leaped  from  his  horse,  and  entered  the 
curtained  door  of  the  House  of  God,  leaving  his  friends, 
who  had  nothing  to  apprehend,  without  to  wait  for  him. 
At  the  moment,  there  were  present  within  the  Taberna 
cle,  only  the  two  priests  which  kept  the  fire  alive  upon 
the  grate  underneath  the  lamb  laid  upon  the  Altar  of 
burnt- offering.  David  drew  near,  and  taking  firm  hold 
of  one  of  the  horns  of  the  altar,  lifted  up  his  voice  in  a 
divinely  inspired  hymn : 

"  He  that  dwelleth  in  the  secret  place 
Of  the  Most  High, 
Shall  abide  under  the  shadow 
Of  the  Almighty. 
The  Lord  is  my  refuge 
And  my  fortress ; 

He  will  cover  me  with  his  feathers, 
And  under  his  wings  will  I  trust." 

"Who  art  thou,  and  whence  comest  thou  ?"  demanded 
one  of  the  priests  ;  "  and  from  whom  dpst  thou  seek  sanc 
tuary?" 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      847 

At  this  moment,  David,  perceiving  the  venerable  High 
Priest  standing  by  the  door  of  the  inner  Tabernacle,  and 
recognizing  him  by  his  robes  and  ephod,  hastened  to  him 
and  said,  kneeling  down  before  him : 

"  Holy  Father,  I  have  sought  shelter  in  the  House  of 
God,  and  at  His  altar,  from  the  anger  of  a  foe  who  seeks 
my  life." 

"  Thou  shalt  have  it !     Who  art  thou,  my  son  ?"  asked 
AJhimelech,  regarding  the  prostrate  youth  with  interest, 
as  he  raised  him  from  the  ground. 
"  David,  the  son  of  Jesse  !" 

"  The  Champion  of  Israel  !"  he  exclaimed.  "  Rise  to 
thy  feet  !  I  have  heard  much  of  thee,  young  man  !  Why 
art  thou  here  alone  ?  Art  thou  not  a  chief  captain  of 
thousands  in  the  king's  army?  Why,  and  from  whom 
shouldst  thou  flee  in  this*  way?  Hast  thou  fallen  out 
with  the  king  ?  I  have  heard  that  he  loves  thee  not !  I 
trust  it  is  not  from  him  thou  tliest  hither !" 

David  perceived  by  this  that  the  High  Priest  feared 
Saul,  and  that  it  would  not  be  prudent  to  let  him  know 
the  truth.  He,  therefore,  evaded  the  question,  and  said 
quickly,  "  I  am  hungry,  I  and  three  of  my  men  at  the 
gate  ;  for  I  am  not  alone.  Wilt  thou  give  me  to  eat  ? 
What  food  hast  thou  here  ?  Give  me  four  or  five  loaves, 
or  what  thou  hast,  for  me  and  mine." 

u  I  have  no  common  bread  that  thou  mayest  eat,  save 
only  the  twelve  loaves  of  shew-bread  just  taken  away  from 
the  golden  table  and  replaced  by  the  hot  loaves.  I  was 
about  to  bear  them  to  distribute  to  the  House  of  the 
Priests.  It  is  only  lawful  for  the  priests  and  their  houses 
to  eat  of  them  ;  but  as  thou  and  those  that  are  with  thee 
are  hungered,  and  thou  lookest  famished  and  wearv,  I 


348         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OH, 

will  give  of  them  to  thee  if  thou  art  not  this  day,  nor  foi 
the  past  three  days,  legally  defiled." 

He  then  commanded  his  son  Abiathar  to  give  to  the 
fugitive  of  the  stale  shew-bread,  which  was  not  now  al 
together  as  holy  as  when  it  stood  upon  the  table  of  the 
Lord,  being  ordained  to  be  eaten  by  the  priests,  and  even 
their  wives  and  children.  David  at  once  hastened  to 
give  the  bread  to  his  three  friends  before  breaking  it  for 
himself.  Outside  of  the  entrance  of  the  court  of  the  Ta 
bernacle,  as  he  stood  therein  to  call  to  his  companions, 
he  beheld,  to  his  dismay,  the  dark  and  ill-visaged  Doeg 
standing  talking  with  Uriah,  whom  he  well  knew.  The 
Edomite,  who  was  a  "  proselyte  of  justice"  to  the  Hebrew 
faith,  had  come  to  the  Tabernacle  four  days  before,  not 
only  to  dispose  of  bullocks  and  lambs  for  the  temple  ; 
being  chief  lord  of  Saul's  herds,  but  to  perform  a  vow, 
and  knew  not  of  the  flight  of  David  ;  nor  did  he  suspect 
but  that  the  three  young  men  were  there  also  to  fulfill 
some  vow  ;  nor  did  they  undeceive  him.  When,  there 
fore,  he  turned  and  saw  David,  laden  with  the  sacred 
loaves,  call  to  them,  he  looked  amazed  and  began  to  sus 
pect  something  wrong.  He  was  too  profound  a  dissem 
bler,  however,  to  betray  his  suspicions,  and  saluting  Da 
vid  with  his  usual  cold  dislike,  he  entered  the  Taberna 
cle.  There  he  learned  that  David  had  sought  sanctuary. 
The  same  hour,  news  of  his  flight,  brought  by  messengers 
of  the  king,  reached  him. 

David  was  greatly  troubled  at  seeing  Saul's  potent 
servant  there ;  and  after  satisfying  his  hunger,  he  re 
turned  into  the  Tabernacle  and  said  to  Ahimelech, 

"  Is  there  not  in  thy  possession  spear  or  sword  ?  for 
I  have  neither  brought  my  sword  nor  my  weapons  with 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      349 

me,  for  I  came  from  Hebron  in  haste.  I  will  go  forward 
on  my  way  !'' 

"  Here  is  the  sword  of  Goliath  the  Philistine,  whom 
thou  slewest  in  the  valley  of  Elah  ;  behold  it  was  sent 
hither  from  Jerusalem  last  week  by  command  of  the 
king,  with  other  weapons  of  the  foe.  It  is  here  wrapped 
in  a  cloth  behind  the  ephod.  If  thou  wilt  take  that, 
take  it ;  for  there  is  no  other  save  that  here  !" 

"  There  is  none  like  that ;  give  it  me  !"  answered 
David  gladly;  for  he  feared  Doeg's  evil  eye,  and  resolved 
to  arm  himself  against  his  treachery.  He  knew,  also, 
that  Saul's  men-at-arms  had  reached  Nob  in  pursuit  of 
him  ;  but  Ahimelech  was  yet  ignorant  of  it. 

As  soon  as  he  received  the  sword  he  went  out,  and 
feeling  that  he  might  compromise  before  Saul  the  timid 
High  Priest  by  remaining  in  sanctuary  with  him,  he  re 
joined  his  friends,  and  the  four  left  the  city  at  full  speed, 
and  just  in  time  to  escape  being  shut  in  by  the  closing 
gates ;  for  Doeg  had  been  busy  with  the  captain  of  the 
place,  and  persuaded  him  to  hasten  to  detain  David  that 
he  might  be  taken ;  for  the  fierce  Edomite,  David  well 
knew,  would  not  have  hesitated  to  have  taken  him  from 
the  very  horns  of  the  Altar  of  the  Sanctuary. 

When  they  had  ridden  hard  two  leagues  westward, 
they  came  into  the  passes  of  Mount  Ephraim,  and  wind 
ing  up  the  hills,  they  at  length  reached  a  summit,  from 
which  was  visible  the  country  of  the  Philistines. 

"My  own  land  is  unsafe  for  me,"  said  David  as  he 
regarded  it;  "this  land  of  the  Philistines  cannot  be  more 
so!" 

"My  chief,"  said  Uriah  the  Hittite,  "thou  knowest 
I  am  bv  descent  from  the  ancient  Canaanites  allied  to 


350  THE   THROVE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

these  Philistines.  I  have  friends  in  their  land.  Trust 
yourself  rather  to  strangers  than  to  your  countrymen, 
whose  hands  are  armed  for  your  life !  Let  my  lord 
David  go  hence  into  the  Philistine  country.  The  King 
of  Gath  is  Achish,  who  is  a  very  generous  person,  and 
brave,  and  knoweth  how  to  receive  and  extend  hospital 
ity  to  a  brave  adversary  who  seeks  his  court,  especially 
to  a  man  flying  from  Saul,  who  is  his  dreaded  enemy!" 
David,  after  a  little  reflection,  resolved  to  take  shelter  ir 
the  land  of  his  hereditary  foes ;  and  the  party  descend- 
ing  the  mountain  rode  south-westwardly  in  the  direction 
of  Gath. 

Behold,  your  majesty,  this  young  hero,  who  had  done 
only  good  to  his  king  and  country,  thus  compelled  to 
fly  from  it,  because  the  very  good  he  had  done  had 
aroused  the  fears  and  jealousy  of  its  chief  recipient, 
Saul.  What  a  sad  spectacle  to  see  virtuous  and  noble 
acts  of  good  men  bring  them  into  sorrow,  as  if  they  had 
been  foes  instead  of  benefactors  to  mankind !  Truly  did 
Samuel  the  Seer  say  in  my  long  interview  with  him  at 
Ramah : 

"  Such,  0  Prince  Arbaces,  is  the  ingratitude  of  man, 
that  if  the  God  of  the  Universe  should  leave  his  throne 
and  take  the  human  form,  and  go  about  on  earth  bless 
ing  and  healing,  and  even  proving  his  Godhead  by  rais 
ing  the  dead,  the  envy  and  hatred  of  man  would  com 
pass  his  death,  if  so  divine  a  person  could  come  under 
the  laws  of  death  !" 

Alas !  without  question  the  Hebrew  prophet's  words 
would  be  verified,  were  it  possible  to  have  their  truth 
tested. 

When  David  reached  the  gates  of  Gath,  where  Goliath 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      S51 

dwelt,  he  was  received  by  the  magnificent  barbarian  king 
with  frankness  and  hospitality ;  for  the  Philistine  re 
joiced  to  have  so  powerful  a  warrior  taken  from  Saul, 
and  added  to  himself.  These  people,  being  a  nation  of 
warriors,  respect  valor  as  the  greatest  of  virtues ;  and 
although  David  had  slain  their  champion,  the  king  ad 
mired  so  greatly  his  courage,  that  he  preferred  rather  to 
pay  him  honor  than  avenge  the  death  of  Goliath  and 
others  upon  him.  He  therefore  offered  him  the  com 
mand  of  a  thousand  men,  and  felt  proud  of  having  so 
brave  a  soldier  in  his  service. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  as  David  rode  by  the  side  of 
the  King  of  Gath,  who  displayed  his  armies  before  him, 
some  of  the  captains  and  lords  of  the  Philistines  mur 
mured,  and  said,  in  his  hearing  : — 

"  Is  not  this  the  warrior  chief  of  the  Hebrews  ?  Is 
he  not  a  mightier  king  in  Israel  than  Saul?  Is  not  this 
he  of  whom  they  sang  one  to  another  when  he  had  slain 
our  champion,  and  bore  his  head  to  their  temple  to 
offer  it  to  his  God,  as  if  it  were  a  bullock's  head,  say 
ing,  '  Saul  hath  slain  his  thousands  and  David  his  ten 
thousands  !'  What  doth  he  here,  riding  by  the  king's 
side?" 

These  words  troubled  David  and  his  friends.  They 
saw,  after  a  few  days  more,  that  they  produced  an  evil 
effect  upon  the  king,  who  grew  less  cordial  to  him,  and 
regarded  him  with  less  honor  than  before,  and  even  set 
spies  upon  him !  At  length,  the  constant  excitement 
and  anxiety  to  which  he  was  a  prey,  combined  with  his 
forced  exile  from  his  country  and  from  his  father's  house, 
from  his  beloved  and  beautiful  young  wife,  and  from  hia 
friend  Jonathan,  with  the  weight  of  the  undeserved  an- 


352  THE    THHONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

ger  of  King  Saul — all  these  causes  operating  upon  a 
body  fatigued  by  his  wandering,  and  upon  a  mind  singu 
larly  sensitive  and  of  the  finest  organization,  threw  him 
suddenly  into  a  wild  fever.  The  king,  yet  ignorant  of 
his  sickness,  and  led  to  believe  he  had  come  to  Gath  as  a 
spy  from  Saul,  under  pretence  of  having  been  driven 
away  by  him,  sent  the  captain  of  his  guard  to  bring  him 
before  him  as  a  prisoner,  as  he  resolved  to  put  him  to 
death.  The  officer  found  the  young  Hebrew  raving  with 
delirium,  and  the  foam  of  his  mouth  sprinkling  his  beard, 
while  to  the  demand  of  the  captain  he  would  madly  write 
upon  the  gate  with  his  finger,  and  laugh  unmeaningly. 
They  led  him  before  Achish,  who  no  sooner  beheld  him 
in  this  pitiable  condition,  than  he  cried : — 

"  Lo,  ye  see  the  man  is  mad  !  Wherefore  then  have 
ye  brought  him  to  me  ?  Have  I  need  of  madmen  that 
ye  have  brought  this  Hebrew  to  play  the  madman  in  my 
presence,  and  into  my  palace?  Take  him  hence  !" 

The  next  day,  at  evening,  the  fever  left  him,  and  his 
three  friends,  fearing  for  his  safety  before  the  king  when 
he  should  recover,  fled  out  of  Gath  with  him  that  night. 
Holding  him  upon  his  horse  between  them  they  rode 
swiftly  until  they  recrossed  the  border  of  Judah,  and 
came  to  a  wood  in  which  was  the  cave  of  Adullam  wherein 
Joshua  slew  its  defeated  king.  To  this  cave  the  three 
young  men  conveyed  David,  it  being  very  secluded,  and 
also,  from  its  elevated  position  in  the  rocks,  easily  de 
fended,  and  its  approaches  readily  commanded  by  the 
eye.  Here  they  made  him  a  bed  of  skins,  and,  while 
Uriah  kept  guard  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  Ahithophel 
remained  by  his  side,  and  Hushai  sought  food  from  the 
villages  or  by  hunting.  Here  they  remained  until  he 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      353 

became  perfectly  well  and  strong,  and  fresh  in  heart  and 
spirits.  His  brothers  and  others  of  his  household  were 
secretly  informed  of  his  abode,  and  came  well-armed  to 
him,  besides  several  of  his  friends,  and  the  friends  of 
Uriah  and  Hushai,  so  that  in  six  weeks  after  he  had  fled 
from  Gath,  he  found  himself  at  the  head  of  seventy  men, 
five  of  them  his  brothers,  all  well-armed,  and  ready  to 
defend  him  against  Saul.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  king 
ceased  not  to  hunt  for  him  throughout  all  the  realm,  and 
his  wrath  was  greatly  increased  against  him  when  he 
heard  that  he  had  fled  to  the  court  and  protection  of  his 
enemy,  Achish ;  and  it  is  said,  that  the  real  cause  of  the 
coolness  of  the  Philistine  monarch  was  produced  by  Doeg, 
the  Edomite,  who  had  been  sent  to  Gath  to  whisper  that 
David  was  artfully  there  as  Saul's  spy  upon  its  strong 
holds.  When,  therefore,  Saul  heard  that  his  victim  had 
escaped  death  from  Achish,  and  had  been  seen  in  Judea 
again,  he  offered  large  rewards  for  his  capture. 

This  vengeance  of  the  Hebrew  king  against  an  inno 
cent  person  created  a  strong  feeling  of  sympathy  for 
David,  and  when  it  became  known  that  he  was  fortified 
at  the  rock  of  Adullam,  not  far  from  Hebron,  numbers 
nocked  to  him,  not  only  of  his  friends  who  had  fought 
in  Saul's  service  with  him,  but  men  of  all  classes  !  In  a 
few  days  he  was  captain  of  four  hundred  men,  among 
them  certain  debtors  and  dissolute  persons,  who  fled  to 
him,  supposing  he  would  protect  them  from  their  credi 
tors  for  their  service  to  him  in  his  adversity.  But  he  sent 
them  away,  indignantly  answering,  "  he  was  not  become 
an  adversary  to  the  laws  of  the  realm,  though  persecuted 
by  its  king,  nor  had  his  misfortunes  made  him  of  neces 
sity  a  companion  of  the  base.  I  arn  not  at  war  with 


354  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

my  people,"  he  said  to  them,  "nor  do  I  intend  to  take 
cities  from  the  king  that  such  persons  should  corns  to 
gather  yourselves  unto  me  !" 

Word  was  now  brought  David  secretly  from  Jonathan, 
that  Saul,  despairing  of  capturing  him,  had  resolved  tc 
seize  upon  the  persons  of  his  aged  parents  at  Bethlehem, 
and  hold  them  as  hostages  until  he  should  come  and  de 
liver  himself  up. 

"Place  them  in  security,  0  my  friend,"  were  the  con 
cluding  words  of  Jonathan's  message,  brought  by  the  lad 
who  had  gathered  the  prince's  arrows,  "  and  with  all 
diligence,  for  to-morrow  night  I  fear  it  will  be  too  late. 
Providentially  my  father  does  nothing  without  informing 
me  of  his  intentions,  and  hence  I  am  able  to  do  thee  and 
thine  this  service,  yet  without  injuring  him.  May  the 
Lord  bless  you  and  guard  you  from  all  peril,  and  in  his 
good  time  give  you  peace  and  safety.  My  heart  is  with 
you,  I  weep  for  and  with  you,  but  I  am  powerless  be 
tween  my  affection  for  you,  and  my  duty  to  my  king  and 
father.  Miclial  mourns  in  silence  your  absence,  and 
trembles  when  a  messenger  approaches  the  palace,  lest 
he  bring  tidings  that  evil  hath  befallen  you !  I  enclose 
from  her  hand  an  epistle  for  you,  wetted  more  bounti 
fully  with  tears  than  with  ink." 

The  same  hour  David  rose  up,  and  taking  three  hun 
dred  men  with  him,  leaving  Uriah  with  one  hundred  to 
guard  their  fortified  cave,  he  went  to  his  father's  house, 
and  taking  his  invalid  father  and  aged  mother  thence, 
he  fled  with  them  from  Saul  across  the  Jordan  to  Mizpeh, 
a  city  of  the  King  of  Moab.  Presenting  himself  before 
the  king,  he  said : 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      8o5 

'*!  pray  tbee,  0  king,  let  my  father  and  my  mother 
be  with  you,  till  I  know  what  God  will  do  for  me  !" 

"Bring  hither  thy  father  and  mother,  0  David,"  an 
swered  the  King  of  Moab ;  "  and  I  will  let  them  dwell 
with  me  !  Was  not  the  warlike  Jesse,  thy  father,  known 
to  my  father  the  king  ?  Was  not  his  grandmother  a 
Moabitcss,  whom  we  hold  in  great  honor  ?  Art  thou  not 
but  four  removes  from  us  ?  Let  us  be  at  peace  !" 

David  gladly  presented  his  venerable  parents  to  the 
king,  who  gave  them  a  house  near  his  own  palace,  and 
entreated  them  for  David's  sake,  as  well  as  their  own, 
with  great  favor.  At  the  court  of  the  King  of  Moab, 
was  a  friend  of  David,  one  of  the  seven  prophet  Teachers 
of  Ramah,  whom  I  have  already  spoken  of  to  your 
majesty.  His  name  was  Gad,  and  he  was  in  great  favor 
with  the  king,  being  allied  to  him  by  kindred,  for  the 
King  of  Moab  had  married  a  Hebrew  woman,  and  was 
friendly  to  the  nation ;  but  Saul  had  offended  him,  and 
hence  his  friendly  reception  of  David.  The  prophet 
Gad  rejoiced  to  see  David,  but  being  inspired  to  reveal 
the  future,  he  warned  him  that  his  safety  and  prosperity 
depended  on  his  returning  into  the  land  of  Judah.  u  If 
thou  desirest  it,"  he  added,  "I  will  go  with  thee  and 
abide  by  thee,  and  aid  thee  with  my  friendship  and  by 
mine  office." 

David  joyfully  accepted  this  powerful  ally ;  for  a  pro 
phet  is  as  a  prince  in  rank  in  this  religious  land,  and 
usually  attends  only  kings ;  and  the  presence  of  this  man 
he  felt  would  give  great  weight  to  his  cause;  for  "cause" 
his  affair  had  now  become,  he  having  been  forced  by 
Saul  to  head  a  faction  for  his  own  preservation.  This 
filial  duty  performed,  he  now  returned  to  the  cave  of 


356  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

Adullam,  in  the  plain  of  Judah,  and  gathering  his  whole 
band,  increased  bj  three  hundred  of  the  fighting  men  of 
the  tribe  of  Gad,  from  beyond  Jordan,  and  a  score 
of  brave  Moabite  warriors,  he  removed  farther  south,  to 
the  dark  forest  of  Hareth  below  Hebron,  to  escape  the 
attack  of  Saul,  whom  he  did  not  desire  to  meet  in  arms ; 
for  the  king  with  his  whole  army  was  marching  upon  him. 
But  when  Saul  reached  the  cave  of  Adullam,  and  found 
it  empty,  he  inquired  of  a  herdsman  who  was  friendly  to 
David,  the  way  David  had  taken,  who  purposely  said, 
"  To  the  north,  towards  Jerusalem  ;  with  a  thousand  men 
at  his  back." 

The  king  believing  he  had  marched  thither  to  capture 
his  armory,  hastened  to  defend  the  place.  Upon  reach 
ing  it,  he  could  hear  nothing  of  him,  and  so  continued 
his  march  upon  Gibeah ;  and  thence  to  Ramah,  believing 
he  had  marched  thither  to  hold  counsel  of  Samuel  the  Seer. 
At  Ramah  he  got  no  intelligence  of  him,  and  learned 
that  Samuel  himself  was  not  in  the  city.  He  was  now 
assured  that  the  prophet  was  with  his  adversary,  and 
stopping  by  a  palm  tree  which  stands  by  the  well  of 
Gibeah,  over  against  the  gate  of  Ramah,  he  said,  as  he 
leaned  with  a  disappointed  look  upon  his  spear,  address 
ing  his  lords,  chief  captains,  and  men-at-arms,  who  stood 
waiting  silently  around  him,  until  he  should  decide  in 
what  direction  to  continue  his  march, 

"Hear  now,  ye  Benjamites !  Will  the  son  of  Jesse 
give  every  one  of  you  fields  and  vineyards,  and  make 
you  all  captains  of  thousands,  and  captains  of  hundreds, 
that  all  of  you  have  conspired  against  me  ?  Ye  know 
where  he  lurketh,  yet  no  man  will  tell  me !  Am  I  become 
so  abased  in  your  eyes,  that  ye  mock  me  with  your 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      357 

silencs,  when  I  would  know  where  my  enemy  lieth  hid? 
So  my  son,  also,  hath  made  a  league  with  the  son  of 
Jesse  against  me,  and  is  for  him !  Yet  there  is  none  of 
you  that  is  sorry  for  me !  I  can  trust  none  of  you  who 
eat  my  bread  and  receive  the  king's  wages !  AVhy  is  it 
that  ye  will  not  speak?" 

"  My  lord  the  king  will  not  be  angry  with  his  servant." 
here  spoke  Doeg,  his  armor-bearer,  and  lord  of  his  herds, 
"because  thy  servant  hath  kept  silence  until  now;  but 
thy  servant  knew  that  first  it  was  expedient  the  king 
should  give  himself  wholly  to  the  destruction  of  his  foe ; 
but  now  that  he  hath  eluded  my  lord  the  king,  and 
brought  the  king  into  these  parts  opposite  Nob,  his  ser 
vant  would  let  my  lord  know  that  when  thy  servant  was 
performing  his  vow  in  the  holy  city,  two  months  ago, 
thy  servant  beheld  the  son  of  Jesse  come  to  the  taberna 
cle,  and  claim  sanctuary  at  the  hand  of  Ahimelech,  the 
son  of  Aliitub.  The  High  Priest  received  the  son  of 
Jesse,  inquired  of  the  Lord  for  him,  gave  him  to  eat, 
and  those  that  were  with  him,  of  the  sacred  bread,  and 
also  placed  in  his  hands  at  his  departure  the  sword  of 
Goliath!" 

Before  the  malicious  and  artful  Edomite  had  ended 
his  words,  the  anger  of  the  king  kindled,  and  brandishing 
his  spear  in  the  air,  he  swore  by  the  Ark  of  God !  that 
Ahimelech  and  his  whole  company  of  priests  should  die  !, 

Without  delay  he  marched  against  Nob  with  his  four 
thousand  men,  nearly  all  Benjamites  of  his  own  tribe, 
to  whom  alone  he  now  trusted,  brave  and  fierce  men  who 
always  fought  with  the  left  hand,  and  held  their  buck 
lers  on  the  right  arm.  As  he  approached  the  city  of 
God,  the  smoke  of  the  perpetual  sacrifice  was  rolling  io 


358  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

dark  clouds  skyward,  and  as  they  drew  near  the  walls, 
it  hung  above  their  heads  and  obscured  the  sun.  Com 
ing  before  the  gate,  Saul  sent  in  a  messenger  to  com 
mand  the  High  Priest  to  come  out  to  him,  and  bring  all 
his  father's  house  and  all  the  priests  who  served  the 
tabernacle. 

The  High  Priest,  with  a  heavy  heart,  summoned  his 
holy  family  and  all  the  priests,  save  those  who  were 
serving  at  the  altars.  Arrayed  in  mitre,  ephod,  pectoral, 
and  breast-plate,  and  wearing  his  purple  robe,  and  all  the 
priests  clad  in  their  sacred  vestments  and  linen  ephods, 
Ahimelech  led  them  in  long  procession  forth  to  the  im 
patient  and  angry  king's  pavilion.  Saul  came  forth  clad 
in  full  battle-armor,  his  spear  in  his  hand,  and  his  face 
dark  with  wrath.  Fixing  his  fierce  eyes  on  the  vener 
able  countenance  of  the  Chief  Priest,  he  cried : 

"  Hear  now,  thou  son  of  Ahitub  !  Art  thou  here  at 
last?" 

"  Here  I  am,  my  lord,"  he  answered  with  dignity, 
though  pale  with  fear. 

"  Why  have  ye  conspired  against  me,"  demanded  Saul, 
sternly,  "  thou  and  the  son  of  Jesse,  in  that  thou  hast 
given  him  bread  and  a  sword,  and  hast  inquired  of  God 
for  him,  that  he  should  now  rise  against  me,  and  lie  in 
wait  for  me,  as  at  this  day?  Thou  hast  favored  the 
king's  foe,  and  been  at  friends  with  him,  and  didst  let 
him  depart  with  thy  blessing  to  take  up  the  sword  against 
me!" 

The  High  Priest,  though  naturally  timid  and  gentle, 
seemed  to  be  inspired  by  his  God  with  courage,  for  he 
replied  firmly  and  fearlessly  : 

"  And  who,  0  king,  is  so  faithful  among  all  thy  ser- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      859 

vants  as  David,  which  is  the  king's  son-in-law,  who  ever 
did  thy  bidding,  and  was  as  honorable  in  thy  house  for 
his  virtues  and  wisdom,  as  on  the  field  by  his  valor  and 
skill  in  defending  thy  crown  and  kingdom  ?  If  such  be 
his  high  character,  0  king,  if  I  received  him  with  honor, 
was  it  not  my  duty,  even  as  I  would  the  king's  son  had 
he  come  to  me?  But  I  did  not  consult  the  divine  oracles 
for  him,  nor  did  he  ask  me  to  do  so,  0  king,  for  only  on 
public  and  national  occasions  do  I  inquire  of  God,  and 
never  privately  for  private  persons  !  Had  I  done  so  for 
David,  the  king  might  impute  blame  to  his  servant.  If 
one  inquired  of  God  for  him,  thy  servant  knew  not  of 
this,  less  or  more  !  Evil  hath  been  spoken  of  thy  ser 
vant  about  this  thing." 

"  Thy  words  avail  not,"  answered  Saul.  "  Thou  shalt 
surely  die,  Ahimelech,  thoti  and  all  thy  father's  house  !" 

The  king,  with  a  countenance  black  with  the  profound- 
est  displeasure,  then  turned  to  his  body-guard  of  two 
thousand  men,  who  were  standing  in  armor,  sword  in 
hand  about  him  : 

"  Abner,  turn  and  slay  this  hoary  priest,  and  all  his 
house,  and  all  the  priests  here  before  me,  with  the  sword  ! 
They  belong  to  the  son  of  Jesse,  because  they  sheltered 
him  when  he  fled,  and  did  not  shew  it  to  me.  Let  them 
die  the  death,  and  their  Gibeonite  slaves  with  them !" 

The  brave  and  noble  general  of  the  king  made  no 
movement  to  obey  this  sanguinary  order.  His  iron-clad 
men-at-arms  stood  immoveable  in  their  ranks.  The  kino; 

O 

glared    at    them,   and,   almost    speechless  with  passion, 

demanded  of  them  whether  they  were  going  to  obey  him  ? 

''My  lord,  the  king,"  said  Abner,  "will  pardon  thy 


360  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

servant,  but  he  cannot  put  forth  his  hand,  nor  will  his 
men  do  so,  to  fall  upon  the  priests  of  the  Lord." 

"Rebel!  Art  thou  against  me?"  shouted  the  king. 
"  By  the  head  of  Dagon  there  is  one  man  here  I  can 
trust  to  !  Where  is  thy  sword,  Doeg  ?  Thou  and  thy 
bearded  men  of  war  turn  to,  and  fall  upon  these 
priests  !" 

No  sooner  had  the  word  gone  out  of  the  king's  mouth, 
than  the  Edomite's  eyes  blazed  with  the  hue  of  blood, 
and,  drawing  his  sword,  he  called  to  two  hundred  des 
perate  men,  of  all  nations,  who  served  him,  ever  ready 
to  do  his  bidding,  to  commence  the  slaughter. 

What  pen,  your  majesty,  can  portray  the  scene  that 
ensued  !  Already  anticipating  their  fate,  most  of  the 
priests  had  begun  to  fly.  Doeg  struck  the  first  blow  at 
the  High  Priest,  cleaving  his  head  to  the  brow,  and  lay 
ing  him  dead  at  the  feet  of  the  king.  For  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  the  work  of  death  went  on,  the  murderers  pur 
suing,  in  every  direction,  those  who  fled ;  though  the  greater 
portion  who  were  slain  received  their  death,  fallen  on  their 
knees,  with  their  hands  folded  upon  their  linen  ephods,  and 
their  faces  cast  down  to  the  earth,  in  profound  submission 
to  their  irrevocable  fate.  At  length  Doeg  recalled  his  mon 
sters  of  blood,  who  slew,  in  all,  four  score  and  five  priests 
wearing  the  sacred  linen  ephod. 

"Now,"  said  the  king,  "go  and  enter  the  city  of  the 
priests  which  has  received  the  fugitives,  and  take  it,  and 
put  to  the  sword  all  within." 

This  sanguinary  order  was  executed.  The  sacred 
city  was  taken  by  Doeg,  and  not  only  were  three  hun 
dred  more  persons  slain  in  the  city,  but  all  the  wives, 
daughters,  and  sons  of  the  Levites,  and  all  the  remnant 
of  the  Gibeonites  therein,  and  all  the  infants  were 


'THE  REBELLION  or  PRINCE  ABSALOM.          861 

put  to  the  sword  by  the  vengeance  of  Saul  against  David. 
But  one  person  escaped,  Abiathar,  the  eldest  son  of  Ahi- 
melech,  who,  having  remained  behind  in  the  Tabernacle 
to  burn  incense  in  the  Sanctuary,  secreted  himself  until 
the  massacre  was  over,  when  he  secretly  fled  from  the 
ruins  of  the  city  of  God,  and  reaching  the  camp  of  David 
in  the  forests  of  Hareth,  made  known  to  him  what  Saul 
had  done. 

Upon  hearing  these  dreadful  tidings,  David  was  deeply 
moved,  and,  embracing  Abiathar,  with  tears,  he  said  in -a 
tone  of  self-reproach  : 

"  I  knew  it  that  day  when  Doeg,  the  Edomite,  was 
there,  whose  tongue  deviseth  mischief,  and  who  loves 
evil  more  than  good.  I  knew  that  he  would  surely  tell 
Saul.  Alas  !  I  have  occasioned  the  death  of  all  the  per 
sons  of  thy  father's  house!"  He  then  said,  "Abide  thou 
with  me,  Abiathar  ;  for  thou  shalt  be  very  dear  to  me 
henceforward.  Fear  not  Saul  I  He  that  seeketh  my 
life,  he  it  is  that  seeketh  thy  life ;  but  with  me  thou 
shalt  be  safe.  God  will  be  our  safeguard  !" 

I  come  now,  your  majesty,  to  a  series  of  incidents  in 
David's  wonderful  career,  which  show  the  excellency  and 
dignity  of  his  character,  his  patriotism,  justice,  and  cle 
mency. 

The  Philistines,  taking  advantage  of  Saul's  pursuit  of 
David,  invaded  lower  Judea  and  robbed  the  granaries  of  the 
Hebrews.  David,  without  delay,  assembled  six  hundred 
followers,  marched  against  them,  and  smote  them  with 
great  slaughter  ;  and,  relieving  the  Hebrew  city  of  Keilah 
which  the  Philistines  had  laid  siege  to,  he  entered  it,  and 
garrisoned  it  with  his  own  men.  "When  Saul  heard  this, 
instead  of  giving  David  praise  for  driving  his  foe  from 


362          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OK, 

the  land,  and,  therefore,  seeing  in  him  a  faithful  subject, 
he  cried  with  exultation  : 

"  God  hath  delivered  him  into  mine  hand ;  for  he  is 
shut  in  hy  entering  into  a  town  which  hath  gates  and 
bars  !" 

Thus  the  wickedness  of  this  heaven-forsaken  monarch 
waxed  greater  and  greater  every  day ;  confirming  the 
saying,  "  that  evil  produceth  more  evil  continually,  until 
cometh  the  end  of  evil,  wrhich  is  dishonor  and  death." 

'  David  being  warned  by  the  divine  oracle  through  Abi- 
athar,  who  was  with  him,  and  now  the  real  High  Priest 
of  the  nation,  that  Saul  would  come  against  him,  and  the 
citizens  of  Keilah,  for  dread  of  Saul's  vengeance,  would 
deliver  him  into  the  king's  hand,  marched  forth  from  the 
city  by  night,  and  sought  the  fastnesses  of  the  wilderness 
of  Ziph,  east  of  Hebron ;  for  in  it  were  numerous  caves  and 
lurking  places,  where  Saul's  army  could  not  easily  pene 
trate.  Here  David  strengthened  his  retreat  in  a  military 
manner,  and  remained  on  the  watch  against  Saul,  who 
dared  not  attack  him  in  the  depths  of  this  wilderness  of 
trees  and  rocks.  • 

One  evening,  as  David  wras  walking  in  the  forest,  going 
from  outpost  to  outpost,  attended  only  by  Uriah,  his 
armor-bearer,  in  order  to  see  that  all  were  vigilant,  for 
Saul  was  in  the  neighborhood,  three  men  suddenly  ap 
peared  in  the  path.  The  moon  shone  broadly  down 
upon  them,  and,  with  a  cry  of  joy,  Da.vid  ran  forward 
and  fell  on  the  neck  of  the  foremost  of  the  two,  exclaim 
ing : 

"  The  Lord  hath  blessed  me  indeed  in  letting  me,  0 
Jonathan,  behold  thy  face  once  more !" 

"  And  me  also,  0  David,  in  permitting  me  to  come 


THE   REBELLION   OF    PRINCE   ABSALOM.  363 

safely  to  thee,"  answered  the  prince,  embracing  his  friend 
again  and  again,  and  holding  him  off  to  look  into  his 
face  to  see  what  change  had  taken  place  therein.  "  Thou 
art  older  and  darker,  and  more  stern  in  look,  dearest 
David!  Hadst  thou  not  spoken,  I  would  hardly  have 
known  it  was  thee.  I  have  come  to  thy  fastnesses  to 
comfort  thee,  and  tell  thee  that  I  sympathize  with  thee 
in  all  thy  troubles.  Here  also  is  the  brave  Joab,  who 
was  thy  chief  captain,  and  his  younger  and  equally  brave 
brother  Abishai,  who  have  come  with  me  to  see  thee!" 

"And  to  stay  with  thee,  0  my  lord,  if  thou  wilt  take 
me  into  thy  service,"  answered  Joab.  "I  can  not  serve 
the  king  any  longer  while  thou  needest  my  sword!" 

David's  heart  was  gladdened  by  the  presence  of  these 
friends ;  and  he  told  Joab  he  should  be  the  chief  com 
mander  of  his  men.  Uriah,  Joab,  and  the  youthful 
Abishai,  now  followed  the  prince  and  his  friend,  as  they 
two  walked  together  towards  the  camp  discoursing. 

"Thou  art  so  good  to  come  to  see  me,"  said  David 
tenderly.  "I  feared  I  had  displeased  thee  by  taking  up 
arms  and  gathering  an  army!" 

"No,  David,"  answered  the  prince.  "I  rejoice  to 
know  that  thereby  thou  wert  making  it  more  and  more 
difficult  for  my  father  to  do  thee  harm !  Fear  me  not, 
my  David!  I  am  as  true  to  thy  soul  as  ever!  Shame 
for  my  father's  hatred  of  thee  tinges  my  cheek.  He 
shall  not  find  thee  to  come  to  thee !  God  will  strengthen 
thy  hand !  Thou  shalt  yet  be  king  over  Israel,  and  I 
shall  be  next  to  thee ;  is  it  not  so  ?  and  that  also  Saul 
iny  father  knoweth!" 

Before  day  David  accompanied  his  friend  to  the  verge 
of  the  forest,  and  there  renewing  their  oath  of  perpetual 


364  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

friendship,  they  parted,  Jonathan  taking  a  memorial 
from  the  young  husband  to  his  bride  in  Hebron.  This 
visit  of  his  friend  strengthened  the  heart  of  David,  as 
did  the  coming  to  him  of  Joab,  his  hand. 

Not  far  from  the  forest  was  the  city  of  the  Ziphites, 
who,  fearing  Saul,  sent  to  him  to  offer  to  betray  David 
into  his  hand. 

"If  ye  know  where  his  haunt  is,"  said  Saul,  "go  and 
find  him  if  ye  can,  for  I  am  told  he  is  very  subtle,  and 
may  not  easily  be  taken  unaware.  Go  and  take  know 
ledge  of  all  his  lurking  places  where  he  hideth  himself, 
and  then  come  to  me,  and  I  will  go  with  you ;  for  if  he 
be  in  the  land,  I  will  search  him  out  throughout  all  the 
thousands  of  Judah."* 

These  men  returned  from  the  king  to  their  forests, 
and  would  have  betrayed  David,  but  being  warned  by 
the  prophet  Gad,  and  by  the  oracle  of  Abiathar,  of  dan 
ger,  the  heaven-guarded  wanderer  changed  his  camp  to 
the  wilderness  of  Maon,  farther  south.  Here  his  young 
men  did  good  service  in  protecting  from  robberies  the 
flocks  of  Nabal,  who  had  already  married  the  comely 
maiden  Abigail  David  saw  at  the  well,  and  dwelt  at 
Maon.  Saul  pursued  David  to  this  place,  when  a  mes 
senger  came  bringing  intelligence  that  an  army  of  the 
Philistines  taking  advantage  of  his  war  against  David, 
had  invaded  his  kingdom.  The  king  hesitated  for 
awhile,  whether  to  continue  his  pursuit  of  David,  or  turn 
back  and  march  against  the  enemy  of  his  country.  Re 
venge  and  patriotism  struggled  for  the  mastery  in  his 
stormy  bosom,  but  the  latter  prevailed,  and  he  went 
against  the  Philistines,  while  David  leisurely  fortified 
*1  Saml.  Chap,  xxiii.  22,  23,  &e. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      865 

himself  in  a  stronghold,  near  the  Sea  of  Sodoma,  called 
En-geddi,  a  land  of  vineyards  and  of  plenty,  of  wild  rocks 
where  the  goats  browse,  and  of  fertile  vales. 

The  warlike  Saul  having  defeated  and  punished  his 
enemies  the  Philistines,  returned  with  three  thousand 
men,  and  followed  David  among  the  very  cliffs  and 
caves  of  En-geddi.  In  these  caves  David  and  all  his 
men  were  concealed.  Saul,  not  supposing  he  was  near 
them,  driven  to  seek  shelter  from  the  sun,  left  his  atten 
dants  without  arid  entered  a  cave,  in  the  dark  recesses 
of  which  David  and  fifty  of  his  men  lay  hidden.  David 
saw  the  king  enter,  his  tall,  martial  form  clearly  re 
lieved  against  the  sky  of  the  opening.  He  recognized 
him  immediately,  and  made  a  sign  for  his  followers  to 
remain  quiet.  Saul  walked  in  for  a  few  yards,  and  after 
looking  wearily  about  him,  lay  down  to  rest,  covering 
himself  and  his  feet  with  his  camp  cloak,  for  the  cave 
was  cool.  He  soon  fell  into  a  deep  sleep.  Uriah  then 
came  near  and  said  to  David,  "Behold  the  Lord  hath 
delivered  thine  enemy  into  thine  hand,  to  do  to  him  as 
it  shall  seem  good  unto  thee!" 

"Nay,"  said  David:  "I  am  not  his  foe!  Is  he  not  my 
father-in-law,  and  the  father  of  Jonathan  my  friend  ?  Is 
he  not  also  my  king,  and  the  anointed  of  God?  I  will 
not  harm  him,  for  I  seek  not  his  life.  It  is  he  who  seeks 
mine.  But  I  will  show  him  he  has  been  in  my  power!" 

David  then  advanced  to  where  lay  the  stern  king 
whose  jealous  hatred  had  so  embittered  his  life,  and  with 
his  knife  he  severed  the  border  of  his  robe;  and  taking 
the  piece  in  his  hand  he  returned  to  his  men  who  were 
grieved  and  angry  that  he  had  not  slain  him.  But  their 
prudent  and  upright  young  captain  said, 


THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

"  Nay,  but  I  have  done  wrong  even  to  sever  his  robe. 
My  heart  smites  me  to  have  put  this  indignity  upon  an 
anointed  king !  I  am  ashamed  to  have  put  forth  mine 
hand  to  touch  the  anointed  of  the  Lord.  Touch  ye  him 
not !  He  is  our  master  and  lord  !" 

At  length,  Saul  awoke  and  rose  up  and  left  the  cave, 
followed  by  David,  who  from  the  outlet  thereof  called 
after  him, 

"My  lord  the  king!" 

Saul  turned  and  beheld  David,  who  bowed  with  his 
face  to  the  earth  before  him,  and  said  aloud, 

"0  king,  live  forever!  Believe  no  more  what  men  tell 
thee,  'that  David  seeketh  thy  hurt!'  I  found  thee  asleep 
in  this  cave.  Thou  seest,  therefore,  how  the  Lord  delivered 
thee  into  mine  hand.  My  followers  saw  thee,  and  bade 
me  kill  thee.  But  I  spared  thee,  remembering  thou  art 
my  master  and  the  Lord's  anointed.  Moreover,  my 
father,  behold  this  skirt  of  thy  robe  in  my  hand !  for  in 
that  I  cut  off  this  from  thy  robe  and  killed  thee  not, 
know  then  I  seek  not  to  harm  thee,  0  my  lord  !  yet  thou 
huntest  my  life  to  take  it !  The  Lord  judge  between  me 
and  thee ;  the  Lord  avenge  me,  not  mine  own  hand,  for 
as  the  Lord  liveth,  mine  hand  shall  not  be  put  forth 
against  thee !  Wickedness  doth  wickedly.  Judge  me. 
If  I  were  evil  I  should  have  done  thee  evil." 

What  a  noble  and  generous  speech,  your  majesty! 
What  godlike  forbearance  and  forgiveness !  What  piety 
and  reverence  are  here  exhibited  by  this  ingenuous  and 
unselfish  young  man !  How  worthy  in  every  way  to 
succeed  in  the  throne  his  relentless  persecutor !  What 
divine  qualities  display  themselves  in  his  character ! 
Every  trial  serves  to  elevate  him  higher  and  higher  in 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  3t>7 

all  that  makes  a  man  great,  wise,  and  good.  Now  mark, 
your  majesty,  the  effect  of  this  sublime  treatment  upon 
King  Saul. 

At  first  he  did  not  know  David  by  his  features,  his 
face  had  so  changed  by  exposure  and  hardships ;  but  he 
recognized  the  noble  voice  which  had  so  often  soothed 
his  melancholy,  and  when  David  had  ended,  he  cried  with 
emotion, 

"  Is  this  tliy  voice,  my  son  David  ?  I  have  heard  thy 
words  !  They  break  my  heart.  I  can  not  speak  to  thee 
for  my  tears  !  I  perceive  thou  art  more  righteous  than 
I ;  for  thou  hast  returned  me  good  for  evil,  since,  when 
the  Lord  delivered  me  into  thine  hand,  thou  killedst  me 
not :  for  if  a  man  find  his  enemy,  will  he  let  him  go  safely 
away  ?  The  Lord  reward  thee  for  the  good  done  me  at 
thy  hand  this  day.  I  now  know  the  Lord  is  with  thee, 
and  that  thou  shalt  surely  be  King  of  Israel,  and  that 
the  kingdom  shall  be  forever  established  in  thine  hand. 
Swear  now,  therefore,  unto  me  that  when  thou  comest  to 
be  king  in  my  place,  thou  wilt  not  put  my  children  to 
death,  nor  destroy  my  name  out  of  my  father's  house  !" 

David  lifted  his  hand  to  the  Lord,  and  took  the  oath 
Saul  required  of  him;  himself  exacting  of  the  king  no 
oath,  as  he  might  well  have  done,  that  he  would  cease 
his  persecution  of  him,  and  leave  him  in  peace. 

Saul,  without  drawing  any  nearer  to  David,  turned  and 
gathered  his  army,  and  left  the  caves  and  strongholds 
of  En-geddi,  and  the  same  day  turned  to  go  back  to 
Hebron.  But  David  too  well  knew  the  king's  incon 
stancy,  and  that  his  reconciliation  was  the  result  of  a 
momentary  emotion  of  gratitude,  and  admiration  of  noble 
qualities  he  onco  possessed  himself,  and  could  still  appre- 


8(58  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

ciate  even  in  his  enemy;  and  remembering  the  saying, 
"  Trust  not  with  too  credulous  a  heart  an  enemy  recon 
ciled,  for  though  he  humble  himself,  yet  take  good  heed 
and  beware  of  him,"  he  durst  not  stay  in  such  an  exposed 
and  well-known  position,  and  immediately  removed  from 
the  caves  to  the  strongholds  of  the  highest  hills. 

"When  Saul  reached  his  palace  at  Hebron,  the  intelli 
gence  met  him  that  the  mighty  Prophet  of  God,  the  man 
whom  he  feared  above  all  other  men,  was  no  more !  that 
he  had  died  at  his  house  in  Ramah  two  days  before,  fall 
ing  asleep  in  death  with  a  calm  serenity,  which  was  in 
correspondence  with  the  piety,  dignity,  and  purity  of  his 
character. 

"  Samuel  dead  !"  repeated  the  king  thrice,  looking  the 
messenger  in  the  face  incredulously. 

"Dead,  my  lord !" 

"  Come  with  me,  young  man,"  he  said  to  the  youthful 
prophet,  Asaph,  who  brought  the  news  which,  as  he  de 
livered  it  on  his  route  to  Hebron,  filled  all  the  land  with 
mourning.  The  king  took  him  aside,  and  placing  his 
hands  upon  his  two  shoulders,  and  piercing  his  eyes  with 
his  own,  said  in  a  whisper : 

"Who  was  with  him  when  he  died?" 

"  The  Teachers  and  the  disciples  of  the  School  of  the 
Prophets  alone  stood  about  him,"  answered  the  young 
man. 

"  Wert  thou  there?"  continued  Saul. 

"Yes,  my  lord!"  he  replied. 

"  What  said  he  ?"  demanded  the  monarch.  "  Breathed 
he  no  message  for  the  king?  Spoke  his  lips  nought  to 
be  told  me?  Sent  he  from  his  dying  bed  no  word  to 
Saul?" 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      809 

"  None,  your  majesty,"  was  responded  by  the  surprised 
young  man. 

"Not  one  word?"  hoarsely  asked  Saul. 

"Not  one,  my  lord  !" 

"  No  sign?  no  attempt  to  say  aught  for  me,  but  therein 
stopped  by  death  coming  upon  him  and  preventing?" 

"No,  your  majesty!"  he  replied. 

Saul  released  his  grasp  upon  the  alarmed  messenger, 
walked  to  and  fro  awhile  greatly  excited,  murmuring : 

"  Samuel  dead  !  The  light  of  Israel  extinguished  ! 
The  glory  of  Judea  gone  down  to  the  shades  of  the  de 
parted,  where  the  mighty,  and  powerful,  and  great,  and 
wise  of  earth  have  gone  before  him  !  Dead !  my  coun 
selor,  my  friend  !  Yes,  these  he  was  to  me  when  I  de 
served  his  friendship.  Now  he  is  gone,  I  feel  the  mighti 
ness  of  all  his  greatness  and  worth  !  Never  shall  a  prophet 
again  rise  like  him !  This  day  Judah  is  shorn  of  her 
splendor,  and  the  sun  gone  down  in  Israel !  I,  I  am  left 
in  darkness  alone !  How  shall  Saul  live,  Samuel  dead ! 
for  though  he  spoke  no  more  with  me,  the  sense  of  his 
presence  was  to  me  a  power  in  the  land,  and  I  was 
strengthened  by  it !  Now,  like  a  solitary  column,  its 
companion  riven  by  the  lightnings,  I  stand  unsupported 
and  ready  to  fall !  The  death  of  Samuel  is  the  omen 
of  my  own  speedy  downfall!  Young  man,"  he  said, 
suddenly  turning  towards  the  messenger,  "  what  ailed  the 
man  of  God?  Was  he  sick  long?" 

"  Nay,  my  lord !     He  had  no  ailing.     He   had  just 

closed  the  evening  prayer,  and  joined  in  the  chant,  a  ray 

of  golden  sunshine  resting  upon  his  majestic  brow,  like 

a  crown  of  resplendent  glory.     We  all  noticed  the  unu- 

24 


370  THE   THROXE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

sually  clear  tones  of  his  voice,  as  he  praised  the  Lord  in 
the  ancient  hymn  of  the  school  :- 

"  My  soul  waiteth  for  the  Lord, 
My  soul  doth  wait  for  God, 

My  Saviour. 

My  soul  waiteth  for  the  Lord, 
More  than  they  that  watch 

For  the  morning, 
More  than  they  that  watch 
For  the  day." 

"While  the  last  words  were  upon  his  lips,  he  slowly 
sunk  back  into  the  "Judges'  throne:"  the  paleness  of 
death  succeeded  the  bright  sunlight  upon  his  forehead. 
He  gathered  the  folds  of  his  prophetic  mantle  about  his 
majestic  form,  clasped  together  his  aged  hands  upon  his 
breast,  and  committing  his  soul  to  God,  murmuring : 
"It  is  day!"  he  closed  his  eyes,  and  peacefully  de 
parted. 

Saul  listened  with  profound  agitation,  and  when  he 
had  concluded,  burst  into  tears  and  wept  like  a  child ! 
His  unrestrained  grief  was  heard  by  his  attendants  in 
the  corridor  and  halls  without,  and  all  marveled  when 
they  learned  how  that  Saul  wept  aloud  for  Samuel. 

Ah,  your  majesty,  what  a  noble,  great  wreck  of  a 
heart  was  in  that  kingly  man's  bosom !  How  fearful 
the  power  of  evil  in  the  soul  to  mar  and  destroy  such  a 
godlike  nature  as  his !  Even  in  its  darkest  and  most 
fearful  condition,  it  responded  instinctively  to  the  best 
and  highest  aspirations  of  humanity !  In  the  smoulder 
ing  ashes  still  lingered  the  divine  spark  of  sacred  fire, 
which,  too  faint  to  be  kindled  into  an  altar-flame  for 
God's  sacrifice,  yet  could  be  fanned  by  the  breath  of 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  371 

penitence  into  life  enough  to  burn  grains  of  sweet  in 
cense,  sprinkled  thereupon  by  the  gentle  hand  of  piety 
and  love. 

In  the  death  of  this  illustrious  prophet,  your  majesty, 
the  whole  nation  lost  one  who,  for  forty  years,  had  been 
their  wisest  and  best  citizen,  distinguished  for  his  mira 
cles,  for  holiness  of  life,  zeal  for  God  and  his  country, 
inviolable  attachment  to  truth.  He  was  a  pattern  to  all 
judges  in  integrity  and  wisdom.  His  private  character 
was  without  reproach.  As  a  military  leader  he  evinced 
courage  and  warlike  skill  of  the  first  class.  In  the  lan 
guage  of  David  to  me,  who  wrote  a  noble  eulogium  upon 
his  death:  "He  was  a  man  of  irreproachable  integrity, 
undaunted  fortitude,  unblemished  and  unaffected  piety, 
sincere  as  a  friend,  gentle  as  a  man,  virtuous  as  a  Judge, 
and  holy  as  a  Prophet."  His  death  threw  the  whole  na 
tion  into  profound  grief,  and  by  command  of  King  Saul 
extraordinary  honors  were  paid  to  his  memory.  He  was 
buried  with  great  pomp,  at  Raman,  in  tjje  garden  of  the 
Palace  of  the  Prophets. 

There  is  an  interesting  narrative  connected  with  his  early 
life.  He  was  a  gift  from  God,  in  answer  to  her  prayers, 
to  his  mother  long  childless ;  and  in  return  she  named 
him  Samuel,  "  asked  of  God,"  and  consecrated  him  from 
his  birth  to  the  service  of  the  Sanctuary.  Eli,  at  that  time, 
was  High  Priest,  and,  I  believe,  the  seventh  in  succession 
from  Aaron,  the  great  Hebrew  Pontiff,  and  founder  of  the 
sacerdotal  line.  This  chief  Priest  was  a  man  of  irresolute 
character,  who  failed  to  restrain  his  two  sons,  who  were 
priests,  in  certain  acts  of  impiety  and  sacrilege  of  which 
they  were  guilty.  Instead  of  punishing  them,  he  only 
gently  reproved  them,  being  a  man  of  a  mild  temper. 


0?2  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID  ;    OR, 

This  parental  indulgence  in  persons  of  public  character, 
and  in  the  sacred  office,  appears  to  be  more  culpable  than 
in  others.  His  God,  therefore,  showed  his  divine  dis 
pleasure  against  the  High  Priest,  by  sending  a  strange 
prophet  to  him,  who  stood  before  the  aged  man  and 
said  : 

"  Behold,  the  days  are  come  that  there  shall  not  be 
an  old  man  in  thine  house  forever !  All  the  increase  of 
thine  house  shall  die  in  the  flower  of  their  age.  And 
this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  thee :  thy  two  sons  Hophni 
and  Phineas  shall  die,  both  of  them  in  one  day ;  and  I 
will  raise  me  up  a  faithful  priest  who  shall  do  my  will  !" 

Eli  bowed  his  head  in  humble  submission  to  this  judg 
ment  of  his  God. 

Not  long  after  this  denunciatory  visitation,  Eli,  whose 
eyes  were  now  dim  with  age,  was  in  the  Holy  Place  lying 
down  upon  a  couch  where  he  kept  watch  by  the  Altar 
of  Incense.  Samuel,  who  was  a  mere  child,  and  served 
in  the  temple,  and  waited  on  the  High  Priest,  was  asleep 
not  far  off  upon  a  mat  laid  on  the  floor  of  the  Sanctuary. 
There  burned  but  a  single  lamp  in  the  central  branch  of 
the  golden  candlestick,  wThich  was  nearest  to  the  Most 
Holy  Place,  the  others  being  filled  so  as  to  burn  only 
until  dawn,  having  gone  out ;  for  it  was  near  day. 
The  central  lamp,  being  left  perpetually  burning,  was 
casting  a  soft  twilight  throughout  the  Sanctuary ! 
While  the  lad  slept,  a  voice,  calling  him  by  name,  awaked 
him.  He  answered,  u  Here  am  I !"  and  rose  up,  and 
ran  to  the  couch  of  the  venerable  Eli,  and  said,  "I  am 
here,  for  thou  calledst  me." 

"I  called  not,  my  child;  lie  down  again,"  answered 
the  aged  Priest. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      373 

A  second  time  the  youthful  Samuel  was  awaked  by  a 
still,  small  voice  uttering  his  name. 

The  faithful  and  dutiful  boy  immediately  ran  to  the 
side  of  the  couch  of  the  old  man,  and  said,  "  Here  am  I, 
for  thou  didst  call  me  !" 

"  Nay  ;  I  called  not,  my  son,  lie  down  again,"  answered 
the  High  Priest.  The  lad  went  away  and  laid  down 
again,  and  was,  ere  long,  awaked  a  third  time  by  a  voice 
which  called  him  by  name. 

He  did  not  hesitate  to  rise  and  go  to  Eli  as  before, 
thinking  that  the  aged  man  had  some  service  for  him  to 
perform  ;  but,  by  great  age  and  loss  of  memory,  had  for 
gotten,  as  soon  as  he  had  called,  that  he  needed  him. 
This  prompt  obedience  and  patient,  cheerful  attendance 
of  the  amiable  child,  are  beautiful,  and  show  the  rich 
seeds  of  the  noble  character  which  were  ultimately  devel 
oped  into  golden  fruit. 

The  High  Priest  now  partly  rose  from  his  recumbent 
position.  The  threefold  repetition  of  the  voice  he  began 
to  think  could  not  be  in  the  imagination  of  the  boy  ; 
knowing  that  he  did  not  call  him,  and  that  in  that  Holy 
Place  no  other  human  beings  were,  he  perceived  that  it 
could  be  no  other  than  the  voice  of  God  calling  to  the 
child  from  between  the  Cherubim  behind  the  Vail.  He 
therefore  said  unto  the  child : 

"  Go,  my  son,  go  and  lie  down  again;  and  if  thou  near 
est  the  voice  call  thee  again  by  thy  name,  answer  it  and 
say,  'Speak,  Lord,  for  thy  servant  heareth.' ' 

The  boy  returned  to  his  little  bed,  and  lay  down  in 
his  place.  All  was  once  more  still.  No  sound  pervaded 
the  solemn  silence  of  the  Sanctuary.  He  slept  the  pro 
found  sleep  of  innocence. 


374  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

u  Samuel !  Samuel !"  was  again  heard  from  the  voice 
BO  mysterious.  The  lad  awaked  and  answered,  "Speak, 
Lord,  for  thy  servant  heareth."  Then  the  voice  of  God 
said  to  him, 

"  Samuel,  behold  I  will  perform  against  Eli  all  things 
which  I  have  spoken  concerning  his  house :  when  I  begin,  I 
will  make  an  end :  for  I  have  told  him  that  I  will  judge  his 
house  forever,  because  his  sons  made  themselves  vile,  and 
he  restrained  them  not !  And,  therefore,  I  have  sworn 
unto  the  house  of  Eli,  that  the  iniquity  of  Eli's  house 
shall  not  be  purged  with  sacrifice  nor  offering  forever  /" 

The  voice  of  the  Lord  ceased  with  this  dread  sentence 
pronounced  against  the  High  Priest  and  his  family,  and 
Samuel  slept  no  more,  but  lay  until  the  dawn  broke, 
when  he  rose  and  lifted  the  curtains  to  open  the  entrance 
to  the  Sanctuary.  Then  Eli  called  him  and  said,  "  Sa 
muel,  what  is  the  thing  the  Lord  said  unto  thee  ?  I 
pray  thee,  child,  hide  it  not  from  me." 

And  the  lad  repeated  all  the  words  of  the  Lord, 
hiding  nothing  from  him.  Then  the  venerable  Priest 
bowed  his  hoary  head  with  humble  submission  to  the 
earth,  and  said, 

"It  is  the  Lord!  Let  Him  do  what  seemeth  him 
good!" 

From  that  day  Eli  knew  that  Samuel  was  ordained  to 
be  a  mighty  Prophet  and  holy  friend  of  God ;  and  all 
Israel  soon  heard  that  the  Lord  had  spoken  with  the 
child  in  visions  of  the  night.  From  that  time  Samuel 
had  other  revelations  from  the  divine  Oracle  of  the  Inner 
Sanctuary  at  Sliiloh,  and  increased  in  wisdom  and  favor 
both  with  God  and  all  the  people. 

This,  your  majesty,  was  tho  beginning  of  the  sacred 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      375 

life  of  the  great  Seer.  He  is  the  first  prophet  that  God 
60  eminently  distinguished  as  to  converse  with  him  in  an 
audible  voice,  since  the  day  of  Moses. 

Before  I  close  this  letter,  your  majesty,  I  must  record 
the  remarkable  fulfillment  of  the  denunciations  of  God 
against  the  house  of  the  offending  High  Priest,  showing 
that  this  great  and  terrible  God  regards  neither  sanctity 
of  office,  nor  dignity  of  rank,  but  prophets,  priests,  and 
kings,  alike  with  the  basest  (and  more  severely),  are  visited 
with  punishment  if  they  sin  against  Him.  To  punish 
sin  it  seems,  in  His  holy  anger  against  it,  He  would  de 
stroy  a  world  !  nay,  hurl  from  His  highest  heaven  angelic 
gods  guilty  of  transgression  ;  nay,  be  willing,  if  it  could 
be  thereby,  and  in  no  other  way,  banished  from  His 
universe,  to  give  up  His  own  Son,  were  He  a  Father,  as 
a  sacrifice  in  atonement  for  sin,  if  the  blood  of  the  lambs 
that  now  perpetually  bleed  on  his  altar  can  not  suffice 
to  wash  it  away  !  To  drive  sin  from  the  dominion  of  His 
creation,  beginning  with  it  in  man,  seems  to  be  the  mo 
tive  of  all  His  works  and  wonders,  of  all  the  displays  of 
His  terrible  power  and  glorious  majesty,  of  his  ceaseless 
mercy  to  the  true  penitent,  and  inexorable  justice  against 
the  offender. 

Until  the  advent  of  Samuel  as  a  prophet,  there  haa 
been  a  long  period  of  suspended  revelations  to  the  He 
brews  from  their  God,  and  heaven  had  set,  they  believed 
forever,  its  seal  of  silence  upon  their  ORACLE,  and  upon  the 
URIM  and  TIIUMMIM  by  which  the  High  Priests  used  to 
ascertain  the  mind  of  God !  The  Urim  and  Thummim 
are,  if  I  am  rightly  informed,  two  sardonyx  stones  of  ex 
traordinary  size  and  beauty,  which  are  set  in  ouches  of 
gold,  and  worn  upon  each  shoulder  of  the  High  Priest 


376  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

These  stones  represent  Light  and  Truth.  When  Cod  is 
present  at  the  sacrifices,  the  stone  borne  on  the  right 
shoulder  shines  with  increased  splendor,  so  that  the  rays 
of  the  illimitable  glory  darting  from  it  are  seen  afar  off; 
yet  this  stone  is  not  naturally  luminous.  The  stone 
omitted,  also,  a  celestial  brilliancy  when  the  High  Priest, 
entering  within  the  Vail,  stood  before  the  Ark  and  sought 
of  the  Lord  answers  to  inquiries,  made  relative  to  impor 
tant,  public,  and  national  events  in  the  future,  such  as 
whether  the  general  of  the  armies  should  give  battle,  and 
if  so  if  he  will  be  victorious.  But  of  late  revelation  from 
God  thereby  had  ceased,  for  the  people  had  become  care 
less  and  irreligious,  and  walked  not  in  the  laws. 

The  ORACLE,  also,  had  long  been  silent.  This  was 
the  voice  of  the  Lord  audibly  answering  the  High  Priest, 
when,  entering  within  the  Holy  of  Holies,  robed  in  his 
most  gorgeous  apparel  and  wearing  his  brilliant  Breast 
plate,  he  enquired  of  Him  !  Standing  before  the  Mercy- 
seat  he  looked  towards  the  place  where,  between  the  wings 
of  the  Cherubim,  dwells  the  Divine  Presence  in  the  form 
of  the  "  Light  of  Glory,"  and  proposed  what  he  desired  to 
be  informed  about.  If  God  answered  favorably,  He 
spoke  audibly  from  between  the  Cherubim,  and  the  twelve 
stones  upon  the  Breast-plate  shone  forth  with  a  splendor 
which  lighted  up  the  inner  Sanctuary  with  dazzling 
radiance ;  each  jewel,  like  a  star,  flashing  forth  its  re 
splendent  light !  And  when  he  went  forth  to  the  people, 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  still  lingered  on  the  Breast-plate, 
so  that  they  were  all  sensible  of  their  God's  presence  in 
what  they  "ft  ere  about  to  undertake,  whether  it  were  to 
make  war  or  defend  their  borders ! 

All  these  celestial  manifestations  and  divine  revela- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      877 

fcions  had,  for  many  years,  on  account  of  the  irreligion 
of  the  people,  been  suspended  !  The  Breast-plate  of"  Eli 
ever  came  forth  from  the  Sanctuary  as  dim  as  when  he 
bore  it  before  the  Lord;  and  until  the  voice  of  God 
spake  audibly  to  the  holy  child  Samuel,  it  had  not  been 
heard  in  the  Tabernacle  during  that  generation. 

When,  therefore,  it  was  known  that  the  Oracle  of 
God's  House  was  vocal  once  more,  and  that  God  had 
spoken  audibly  in  the  Sanctuary  in  the  morning  watch  to 
the  child  Samuel,  the  liveliest  anticipations  were  awakened 
in  the  bosoms  of  the  desponding  and  humbled  Hebrews. 
The  news  spread  quickly  throughout  the  whole  land ;  and 
new  heart  was  given  to  the  nation.  The  Philistines  at 
that  time  were  masters  of  the  country,  and  neither  Judge 
nor  warrior  raised  his  head  in  the  land. 

"  God  is  with  us !  The  Lord  hath  spoken  !  Let  Israel 
rejoice!  Let  Judah  lift  up  her  head!  The  anger  of 
Jehovah  hath  ended !  Lift  up  the  standard  of  the  people ! 
Let  us  destroy  our  enemies  !  In  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
let  us  redeem  our  country." 

Such  was  the  cry  which  rang  from  one  end  of  Judea 
to  the  other.  The  whole  nation  flew  to  arms !  They  at 
tacked  the  Philistines,  so  long  their  masters,  expecting 
without  opposition  to  drive  them  from  the  land!  But 
they  were  signally  defeated,  and  four  thousand  of  these 
confident  Hebrews  were  left  dead  on  the  field ! 

Disappointed  and  perplexed  at  this  discomfiture, 
when  they  counted  upon  certain  victory,  some  of  the 
lords  and  high  captains  cried,  "It  is  because  we  asked 
not  the  Lord's  presence  with  us !  We  trusted  to  our  own 
arms  to  bring  us  liberty." 

Thereupon  a  deputation  waited  upon  Eli,  and  asked 


378  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

for  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  to  be  delivered  to  them, 
with  the  Mercy-seat  and  Cherubim,  between  which 
dwelt  the  visible  glory  of  the  Divine  Presence.  The 
High  Priest,  prevailed  upon  against  his  own  wishes  by 
his  two  sons,  surrendered  the  sacred  Coffer  to  these 
warriors  and  captains.  They  bore  it  away,  attended  by 
his  sons,  Hophni  and  Phineas,  as  its  keepers,  with  great 
rejoicings,  and  accompanied  by  tens  of  thousands  of 
jubilant  people  praising  the  Lord,  and  rejoicing  in  his 
Presence.  The  House  of  the  Oracle  was  brought  to 
their  camp,  and  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  army.  In 
spired  with  confidence  in  victory,  the  Hebrews  now 
recklessly  gave  battle  to  their  enemies.  The  result 
proved  far  more  disastrous  than  before!  The  Philistine 
armies  were  conquerors  in  all  parts  of  the  plain,  defeat 
ing  the  Hebrews  with  immense  slaughter,  overthrowing 
all  their  hosts,  and  putting  to  death  on  the  field  thirty 
thousand  of  those  who  bore  arms  against  them.  The 
new  and  young  king  of  the  Philistines,  Goliath  of  Gath, 
the  giant,  who  was  slain  many  years  afterwards  by 
David  in  the  vale  of  Elah,  attacked  the  guardians  of  the 
Ark  itself,  with  his  own  hands  slew  Hophni  and  Phineas, 
who,  dissolute  and  unworthy  priests  as  they  were,  as  men 
showed  the  greatest  courage,  and  died  valiantly  defend 
ing  the  Ark  of  that  God,  w4iose  holy  laws  they  had  dis 
honored  by  their  impious  and  sacrilegious  lives. 

The  Ark  now  became  the  rallying  point  of  the  men 
of  Israel,  and  the  elevated  wings  of  the  Cherubim  became 
the  standards  to  call  them  to  die  for  their  faith!  A 
thousand  devoted  men  fought  to  the  last,  and  were  slain 
around  it,  piling  with  their  dead  bodies  a  hecatomb  to 
their  God,  around  the  Sanctuary  of  His  Presence.  But 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      379 

all  in  vain  these  pious  and  sublime  sacrifices!  The  Ark 
was  taken  by  their  foes,  and  borne  in  barbaric  triumph 
from  the  field  to  the  Philistine  camp ! 

Eli  the  High  Priest  had  gone  out  of  the  Tabernacle 
in  Shiloh,  to  watch  for  news  from  the  battle-field,  for  his 
heart  trembled  for  the  Ark  of  God.  Weary  with  ninety- 
eight  years  upon  his  shoulders,  he  came  to  a  seat  by  the 
side  of  the  road,  and  which  stood  near  to  the  gate  of  the 
city,  and  sat  down.  Suddenly  he  heard  a  great  outcry 
in  the  direction  of  the  gate,  but  his  eyes  being  dim,  he 
could  not  see  what  produced  it.  But  there  had  just 
entered  it  a  man,  running  from  the  army,  with  his  clothes 
rent,  and  earth  upon  his  head,  and  with  all  the  signs  of 
woe  in  his  fnce,  like  one  who  bore  evil  tidings.  As  soon 
as  he  could  get  his  breath,  he  cried  to  those  about  him : 

"The  Ark  of  God  is  taken!  The  Ark  of  God  is 
taken !  The  people  of  Isra.el  are  overthrown  in  all  their 
armies,  and  the  Ark  of  God  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of 
the  King  of  Gath  and  his  Philistines." 

These  tidings  spread  like  wild-fire  throughout  Shiloh, 
and  the  whole  city  cried  out  with  despair. 

"What  meaneth  the  noise  of  this  tumult?"  asked  the 
old  man  with  tremulous  accents. 

The  bearer  of  the  tidings  came  near  the  blind  High 
Priest  and  answered,  "I  am  a  bearer  of  news  from  the 
army,  my  lord !  I  left  it  to-day,  and  have  ran  all  the 
way  hither!" 

"What  has  been  done?  Have  they  fought,  my  son?" 
he  asked. 

"They  have  had  a  battle,  and  our  people  have  fled 
before  the  Philistines,"  answered  the  man;  "and  there 
has  been  very  great  slaughter  of  our  people,  and  thy  two 


380  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

sons,  Hophni  and  Phineas,  are  dead,  and  the  ARK  OF 
GOD  is  taken!" 

The  old  man  heard  of  the  death  of  his  sons  unmoved, 
but  at  the  last  words,  he  fell  over  backward  from  his 
seat  by  the  gate,  and  died!  His  daughter-in-law,  the 
wife  of  Phineas,  no  sooner  heard  the  man's  tidings,  than 
she  cried,  "The  glory  is  departed  from  Israel;  for  the 
Ark  of  God  is  taken,"  and  immediately  expired  from 
grief  and  shame. 

Thus  in  one  day,  your  majesty,  was  fulfilled  in  the 
most  wonderful  manner  the  prophecy  of  the  Oracle  to 
the  child  Samuel! 

The  Philistines,  believing  that  the  Hebrew  God  was 
the  two  Cherubim,  idols  like  their  own,  felt  great  exul 
tation  in  robbing  them  of  their  deities;  and  believing 
that  all  the  wonders  the  Ark  had  done  for  Israel,  it 
would  do  for  them,  conveyed  the  Oracle  with  great  pomp 
in  sacred  procession  to  their  chief  temple,  dedicated  to 
Dagon. 

No  sooner  was  the  Divine  Ark  placed  therein,  than 
the  image  of  their  god  bowed  to  the  earth,  and  fell  pros 
trate  before  it.  Attributing  this  remarkable  obeisance 
to  accident,  they  replaced  it  upon  its  pedestal.  The  fol 
lowing  morning,  when  the  priests  of  the  god  entered  the 
temple,  they  were  amazed  to  behold  their  idol  again 
prostrate  before  the  Ark,  and  his  head  and  hands  broken 
off  by  the  fall,  and  lying  on  the  threshold.  The  same 
day  the  whole  city,  beginning  at  the  priests,  was  smitten 
with  unknown  fearful  diseases!*  The  dreadful  ark  was 
sent  away  therefore  by  them  to  another  city,  which  was 
similarly  afflicted  by  dire  pestilences  and  calamities, 

*  1  Samuel,  Chap.  v. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      881 

which  followed  the  Ark  whithersoever  they  carried  it, 
until  at  length  by  the  counsel  of  their  diviners,  they  re 
solved  to  restore  it  to  its  rightful  owners,  the  Hebrews, 
which  was  done  with  great  ceremony,  and  with  trespass- 
offerings  of  gold  and  jewels  to  God  for  their  sin  in  taking 
it,  and  that  He  would  heal  their  diseases.  The  Israel 
ites  received  their  holy  Ark  with  national  rejoicing. 

At  length,  Samuel  came  to  manhood,  and  became  the 
Judge  and  leader  of  Israel,  and  under  his  holy  influences 
the  whole  nation  publicly  repented  and  confessed  its  long- 
continued  sins  to  God,  returning  to  Him  after  those  years 
of  disobedience  by  fasting,  humiliation,  sacrifice,  and 
prayer.  The  Philistines,  hearing  of  the  vast,  unarmed 
religious  assembly  of  the  men  of  Israel  under  Samuel, 
resolved  to  attack  them,  hoping  for  an  easy  victory. 
The  sight  of  the  mail-clad  armies  of  their  implacable 
and  dreaded  foes  filled  them  with  consternation,  and  they 
began  to  accuse  Samuel,  as  of  old  their  like  fathers  did 
Moses,  of  bringing  them  into  their  great  peril.  But 
Samuel  sacrificed  a  victim  upon  the  altar,  and  as  the 
smoke  of  the  burnt-offering  ascended  towards  heaven,  he 
called  upon  his  God!  At  the  prophet's  voice,  the  skies 
grew  black  with  clouds  above  the  hosts  of  the  Philistines, 
thunders  rolled  in  fearful  voices  along  the  heavens,  from 
which  darted  forked  lightnings  down  upon  the  foes  of 
God,  and  of  his  people.  Filled  with  dismay,  the  Philis 
tines  fled,  pursued  by  the  Hebrews,  and  utterly  over 
thrown,  were  smitten  with  great  slaughter.  From  that 
day  of  power  this  eminent  Hebrew  ruled  Israel  as  Judge 
and  general  of  its  armies.  For  forty  years,  during  his  wise, 
and  prudent,  and  powerful  government,  the  Philistines 
remained  within  their  own  borders,  fearing  his  power 


382         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

and  respecting  his  courage.  At  length,  when  he  became 
advanced  in  years,  he  divided  the  rule  with  his  two  sons, 
who,  though  not,  like  those  of  Eli,  wicked  and  sacrile 
gious,  yet  governed  the  people  without  prudence  or  wis 
dom.  Hence  arose  that  universal  spirit  of  disaffection 
which  led  the  Israelites  to  wait  on  the  aged  Seer  and 
Judge,  now  three-score  and  ten  years  of  age,  and  ask  him 
to  withdraw  his  authority  from  his  sons,  and  anoint  over 
the  nation  a  king,  that  they  might  have  hereditary  rulers, 
and  be  like  the  nations  around  them  ! 

Your  majesty  will  recollect  that  in  my  earlier  epistles 
I  narrated  the  result  of  this  petition,  which  was  the  elec 
tion  and  anointing  of  Saul !  Samuel,  who  had  been  forty 
years  sole  Judge  of  Israel,  lived  more  than  a  score  of 
years  during  Saul's  reign,  dying  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety,  sublimely  ending  a  life  of  honor  and  usefulness, 
and  leaving  to  the  future  ages  a  name  that  will  never 
die. 

Parewell,  my  dear  Belus, 

King,  and  kinsman,  of  his  faithful 

ARBACES. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM. 


LETTER    XII. 
ARBACES  TO  THE  KING. 

BETHLEHEM,  LAND  OF  JUDEA. 

YOUR  MAJESTY: 

SINCE  I  last  wrote  to  you,  my  health  has  been  stea 
dily  improving.  I  sit  by  an  open  window,  from  which 
I  have  a  pleasant  view  of  the  olive  hills,  near  Jerusalem, 
and  a  pleasant  vale  between  filled  with  gardens  and  vine 
yards,  and  white-walled  homes  of  the  vine-dressers  and 
olive-keepers.  In  the  court  of  Joab's  house  are  nume 
rous  orange  trees,  the  golden  fruits  of  which  shed  de 
lightful  odor  on  the  air,  while  the  odorous  oleander  and 
the  pomegranate  tree,  with  its  scarlet-scolloped  cups,  and 
flowers  of  every  gorgeous  hue,  enrich  the  prospect  before 
me.  Zephyrs  blow  softly  in  at  my  window,  and  the  voices 
of  singing  birds,  unknown  in  Assyria,  charm  my  ear. 

All  this  is  very  grateful  to  an  invalid,  and  I  do  not 
know  how  better  to  dispose  of  my  invigorated  health  and 
cheerful  spirits  than  to  write  to  you,  0  Belus,  and  con 
tinue  the  narrative  of  the  events  which  transpired  during 
my  detention  in  Egypt,  and  which  have  paved  the  way 
of  David,  the  shepherd,  the  hero,  the  poet,  and  great 
captain,  to  the  Throne  of  Israel. 

At  the  closing  part  of  my  last  letter,  I  gave  you  more 
in  detail  the  history  of  the  Seer  Samuel  than  hitherto. 


384  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    UK, 

inasmuch,  as  it  afforded  a  key  to  the  understanding  of 
one  of  the  most  important  periods  of  the  history  of  this 
people.  Your  majesty  can  now,  with  me,  intelligently 
trace  the  progress  of  the  Hebrews  through  the  centuries 
which  have  elapsed  since  the  crossing  of  the  Jordan  to 
the  death  of  Samuel ;  while  the  letters  of  Sesostris  * 
in  your  archives  have  given  you  a  full  history  of  the 
wonderful  events  connected  with  this  nation,  from  the 
calling  of  Abram  out  of  Assyrian  Chaldea,  to  become  the 
father  of  this  mighty  confederacy  of  twelve  Principali 
ties,  to  their  forty  years'  march  through  the  wilderness 
towards  this  land  now  occupied  by  them. 

The  reign  of  Saul  is  the  foundation  of  the  prophetic 
Throne  of  David  ;  and  no  future  events  of  David's  life  can 
hardly  prove  more  extraordinary  than  those  of  his  youth, 
from  the  time  of  his  anointing  as  KING  and  successor  to  the 
Throne  (which  from  that  day  was  virtually  his  own)  of 
Saul,  and  to  the  sceptre  of  Israel. 

Your  majesty  will,  perhaps,  believe  that  the  Hebrew 
monarch,  after  his  reconciliation  with  David  at  the  cave 
of  Engeddi,  and  open  acknowledgment  of  his  right  to 
the  succession  on  his  throne,  suffered  the  youthful,  God- 
appointed  heir  to  his  kingdom  to  remain  in  peace.  Doubt 
less  he  was  sincere  at  the  time  in  what  he  said  and  did. 
and  meant  to  keep  his  vow. 

But  you  have  learned  enough  of  the  fickleness  of  his 
temper,  0  Belus,  to  lead  you  to  suspect  that  the  first  im 
pulse  of  feeling  rising  against  David  from  any  cause, 
his  persecuting  wrath  would  re-awake.  Such  wus  the 
fact. 

He  had  returned  to  Hebron  after  paying  royal  honors 
*  Vide  "  Pillar  of  Fire,  or  Israel  in  Bondage." 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  385 

to  the  sacred  ashes  of  the  consecrated  Prophet,  and, 
shutting  himself  in  his  palace,  he  became  profoundly  me 
lancholy  ;  a  condition  of  his  mind,  which,  like  dark 
clouds  rolling  up  the  sky,  and  casting  their  shadow  over 
earth's  sunshine,  foreboded  a  tempest.  Fearing  to  hasten 
tbs  outburst  of  the  simoom  across  the  fiery  desert  of  his 
soul,  his  attendants  came  not  near  him.  Since  the  mas 
sacre  of  the  priests  he  had  seldom  slept ;  if  so,  only 
where  fatigue  chanced  to  arrest  him  ;  and  then  his  dreams 
were  fearful,  and  would  rouse  him  with  groans  of  despair 
to  equally  terrible  consciousness.  His  dark  visions  were 
as  unendurable  as  his  waking  reflections ;  hence  he  stu 
diously  kept  away  from  his  couch,  and  compelled  his 
Servants  to  keep  him  from  sleeping  by  music,  and  con 
stant  watchfulness.  "  Strike  the  gray  beard,  Doeg  !  let 
not  one  be  left  alive  !"  he  would  cry  in  his  sleep,  seated 
upright  in  his  chair,  or  leaning  against  the  side  of  his 
throne,  or  by  the  window. 

How  remarkably,  your  majesty,  the  massacre  of  thesn 
priests,  all  of  whom  were  descendants  or  kindred  of  Eli, 
fulfilled  the  prophetic  denunciations  of  the  Oracle  in  the 
Sanctuary,  when  God  spake  to  the  child  Samuel !  Se 
venty  years  had  elapsed,  and  their  God,  to  whom  a  year 
is  a  moment,  makes  the  fierce  and  cruel  Doeg,  the  exe 
cutioner  of  his  judgments ;  but  with  no  less  guilt  to 
Doeg,  the  sword,  and  Saul  the  hand  which  did  the  deed. 
Wicked  men  may  carry  out  God's  purposes,  when  they 
think  they  are  only  following  the  dictates  of  their  own 
sanguinary  nature.  He  can  make  even  the  fury  of  his 
creatures  redound  to  the  glory  of  his  own  power  and 
will 

His  daughter,  the  Princess  Michal,  at  length  ap- 
25 


H86         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

preached  her  father  when  he  was  in  one  of  these  gloomy 
conditions  of  mind.  She  found  his  face  hollow  and  hag 
gard,  his  eyes  blood-shotten,  his  massive  jaws  hanging 
with  helpless  woe,  and  his  whole  frame  drooping  and 
spiritless. 

"  Father,"  she  said  ;  "  I  have  come  to  ask  thee  to  send 
me  to  David,  my  husband,  since  thou  art  reconciled  to 
him." 

"  Thou  !  what  dost  thou  ask  ?  A  husband  !  By  the 
brazen  gods  of  Ekron,  thou  shalt  have  one  !"  he  cried, 
with  looks  so  terrible  that  she  shrank  from  the  blaze  of 
his  eyes.  "  Call  hither  Phalti,  the  Danite  lord,  son  of 
Laish  !"  he  commanded  his  servants. 

When  the  man  appeared  before  him,  the  king  said  to 
him,  "  I  have  heard  thou  didst  love  my  daughter  Michal  ere 
the  son  of  Jesse  beheld  her  !  She  has  no  husband  !  I 
divorce  her  by  the  king's  oath  !  Take  her  !  She  shall 
be  thy  wife  !" 

In  vain  Michal  plead  for  mercy.  Phalti  was  a  man 
twice  her  age,  and  of  stern  countenance ;  but  virtuous 
and  upright.  He  had  done  his  king  service  in  guiding 
him  to  Engeddi,  having  possessions  in  the  forest.  He 
would  have  opposed  the  king's  command,  but  feared  to 
do  so.  The  marriage  was  performed  the  same  hour,  and 
Phalti  bore  his  wife  to  his  home,  saying  to  his  mother, 
"  This  is  my  sister,  and  keep  her  with  thee,  that  David 
may,  one  day,  have  her." 

When  David  heard  the  news,  he  was  justly  indignant,  and 
had  a  good  cause  now  for  quarrel  with  the  king.  But  he 
bore  the  insult  and  wrong  with  forbearance.  Saul  now  fol 
lowed  up  this  outrage.  He  felt  that  he  had  thereby  wronged 
id  so  that  he  would  certainly,  in  his  anger,  come  out 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  387 

from  his  fortresses  and  give  him  battle  ;  when  he  hoped  to 
slay  him  on  the  field.  He,  therefore,  went  forth  again 
at  the  head  of  his  army,  and  approached  the  place  in  the 
wilderness  of  Ziph,  where  his  spies  told  him  David  was 
fortified.  Here,  upon  a  plain  partly  covered  with  wood, 
the  king  pitched  his  camp  and  slightly  entrenched  it, 
hoping  David  would  attack  him  on  the  morrow.  From 
the  top  of  the  rock,  David  beheld  the  tents  of  Saul,  his 
banners  flying,  and  his  whole  army  in  battle-array. 

"  I  will  seek  Saul's  pavilion  to-night,"  he  said,  turning 
to  Abishai,  the  brave  younger  brother  of  his  chief  cap 
tain  Joab,  and  others  about  him.  "Who  will  go  down 
with  me  thither  secretly  after  dark?" 

"I  will  go  down  with  thee,"  answered  Abishai. 
Under  cover  of  the  night,  though  aided  by  a  new  moon, 
David,  who  by  daylight  carefully  marked  with  his  eye 
the  direction  and  path,  approached  the  out-posts  of  the 
king's  camp.  Without  being  discovered,  he  entered 
within  the  lines,  and  came  to  Saul's  pavilion.  His 
guards  slept,  and  David  advanced  beyond  them,  arid 
stood  by  the  side  of  the  king,  who  lay  fast  asleep  in  his 
unharnessed  chariot,  before  the  door  of  his  tent,  the 
light  of  the  young  moon  distinctly  revealing  his  worn, 
yet  still  majestic  features.  His  javelin  was  stuck  in  the 
ground  at  his  head.  The  young  warrior  stood,  and  con 
templated  his  face  with  profound  emotions  and  sad  re 
collections.  "How  changed!"  he  said,  unconsciously 
speaking  with  himself;  "how  deeply  passion  has  drawn 
its  ploughshare  across  his  kingly  brow !  How  stern  the 
visage!  He  starts  and  mutters!  It  is  the  name  Samuel 
he  pronounces.  His  dreams  trouble  him !  Alas!  I  pity 
thee,  0  king!"  "My  captain,"  said  Abishai,  "the  Lord 


388          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OK, 

hath  delivered  thine  enemy  into  thine  hand!"  Now 
therefore  let  me  smite  him  with  his  own  spear,  even  to 
the  earth  at  once!  One  blow  and  no  more,  I  ask. 

" Destroy  not  the  anointed  of  God!"  said  David 
"Who  can  stretch  forth  his  hand  against  the  Lord's 
anointed  and  be  guiltless?  Leave  him  to  the  justice  of 
God.  His  day  will  come!  Let  him  fall  in  battle,  but 
not  by  my  hand!"  He  then  turned  and  looked  for 
awhile  at  the  sleeping  king's  face,  who  started,  feverish 
itnd  ill  at  ease,  and  uttered  his  name  in  his  disturbed 
sleep,  but  with  harsh  and  bitter  tones.  Abner  his  gene 
ral  also  slept,  his  head  on  his  buckler,  and  his  sword  in 
his  hand,  not  far  from  the  chariot.  "Take  the  spear 
at  the  king's  head,  and  the  cruse  of  water  by  his  side, 
and  let  us  depart,"  said  David  to  his  companion.  "He 
shall  thereby  know,  and  Abner  also,  that  he  has  been  in 
iny  hand!" 

Reluctantly  Abishai  refrained  from  slaying  the  king, 
and  taking  the  spear  and  the  cruse  of  water,  with  which 
the  feverish  king  quenched  his  burning  thirst,  he  followed 
David.  They  repassed  the  sleeping  sentries,  no  man  being 
disturbed  in  the  deep  sleep  that  was  fallen  upon  them. 
Opposite  the  camp  of  Saul  was  a  high  hill  of  rock,  about 
five  bow-shots  distant,  to  the  top  of  which  David  as 
cended,  and  turning  round  he  called, 

"Abner!  Hear  thou,  0  Abner,  0  chief  captain  of 
King  Saul!  Answer est  thou  not,  Abner  son  of  Ner?" 

His  loud  call  aroused  the  Hebrew  general  from  his 
sleep,  and  springing  to  his  feet,  he  cried,  looking  all 
about  him, 

"Who,  and  where  art  thou,  that  criest  to  the  king?" 

*'Art   thou   not    a  valiant   man?"    continued   David 


THE  REBELLION  OP  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      389 

from  the  hill;  "and  who  is  like  to  thee,  0  general,  in 
Israel?  Wherefore  hast  thou  not  better  kept  ward  over 
thy  lord  the  king?  There  but  now  came  one  near  to 
destroy  thv  lord.  Is  this  the  way  to  keep  watch  and 
ward  over  your  master,  and  the  Lord's  anointed?  As 
the  Lord  liveth,  ye  are  worthy  of  death!  Who  am  I? 
Find  thou  fiust  where  the  king's  spear  is,  and  the  cruse 
of  water  that  was  at  his  head  as  he  slept!" 

Saul  also  awakened,  and  recognizing  his  well-known 
voice,  and  missing  his  spear,  and  the  cruse  of  water,  and 
perceiving  that  the  man  he  had  wronged  had  been  by  his 
side  as  he  slept,  and  refrained  from  taking  his  life,  with 
that  impulsive  emotion  characteristic  of  him,  he  was 
touched  to  the  heart,  and  called  out,  in  tones  of  kind 
ness  : 

"Is  this  thy  voice,  my  son  David?" 

"It  is  my  voice,  0  kinir,"  answered  the  noble  young 
man.  "While  thou  and  thine  slept,  I  stood  by  thy  head, 
and  with  thine  own  spear  could  have  slain  thee !  I  bore 
it  away,  not  to  insult  thee,  0  my  father,  but  to  show 
thee  that  the  Lord  gave  thee  into  my  hand.  If  the 
Lord  hath  now  sent  thee  against  me  for  my  sins,  then 
will  I  offer  him  a  sin-offering,  and  humble  myself  before 
his  footstool  for  my  transgression;  but  if  the  wickedness 
of  men  hath  stirred  thee  against  me,  let  the  Lord  de 
stroy  them  for  driving  me  into  the  wilderness,  and  holes, 
and  caves  of  the  earth,  and  even  to  seek  shelter  among 
the  heathen,  and  under  their  gods!  Wherefore  does  the 
King  of  Israel  hunt  me  thus,  as  a  wild  bird,  or  a  coney 
of  the  rocks,  giving  me  no  rest !  Moreover  thou  hast 
taken  from  me  my  wife,  and  given  her  to  another!  Yet 
for  all  this  I  slew  thee  not  this  night!" 


390  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Then  Saul  answered  and  said,  "I  have  sinned,  my 
son,  my  son  David!  Return  to  Hebron  or  go  where 
thou  wilt.  I  will  do  thee  no  harm,  because  my  life  was 
precious  in  thine  eyes.  I  have  been  a  fool,  and  a  mad 
man  before  thee,  and  have  grievously  wronged  thee  and 
thine,  0  David!" 

David  did  not  make  any  answer  to  these  confessions 
and  promises,  for  he  knew  better  than  to  put  any  confi 
dence  in  a  prince  so  wayward  and  inconstant,  and  who 
still  hated  him  bitterly. 

"  Behold  the  king's  spear  !"  he  called  to  Abner.  "  Let 
one  of  the  young  men  come  over  and  fetch  it." 

Saul  sent  a  lad  for  his  spear  and  cruse  of  water,  and 
said : 

"  Blessed  be  thou,  my  son  David !  The  Lord  is 
with  thee !  Thou  shalt  do  mighty  works  and  deeds  of 
valor,  and  over  all  thine  enemies  have  the  victory  and 
prevail." 

David,  delivering  the  spear  to  the  youth  who  timidly 
came  for  it,  turned  and  left  the  top  of  the  mount,  accom 
panied  by  Abishai,  and  ere  midnight  regained  his  own 
camp  in  the  hill-forest. 

That  the  king  dissembled  when  he  spoke  to  him  so 
softly  David  well  knew,  for  he  was  not  ignorant  of  the 
wickedness  and  weakness  of  Saul's  character.  He  was 
sure  that  he  would  never  forgive  him  for  having  taken 
away  his  spear,  to  lose  which  is  a  warrior's  greatest  dis 
grace.  A  few  days  afterwards,  the  faithful  Jonathan 
sent  him  word  that  the  king,  finding  he  did  not  return 
to  Hebron,  had  called  together  all  his  armies,  resolved  to 
destroy  him,  and  all  with  him,  if  to  be  found  within  the 
land  of  Judea.  David,  therefore,  called  a  council  of  his 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      391 

friends  and  captains.  There  were  present  the  valiant 
rind  fierce  Joab,  his  general ;  Uriah,  his  second  in  com 
mand  ;  Abishai,  the  brother  of  Joab,  who  was  now  his 
armor-bearer  instead  of  Uriah  ;  Hushai  and  Ahithophel, 
both  of  whom  bore  arms  with  David,  though  war  was 
not  their  usual  pursuit ;  also,  Abiathar,  the  priest,  in  his 
sacred  robes  and  ephod. 

At  length,  the  counsel  of  Uriah  prevailed,  who  said : 
"  That  Achish,  King  of  Gath,  having  certainly  learned 
that  David  had,  in  good  faith,  and  not  artfully  by  stra 
tagem,  before  sought  his  protection  and  service,  had  sent 
word  to  Uriah  that  if  his  master  desired  again  to  leave 
Judea,  to  escape  from  King  Saul,  he  would  gladly  re 
ceive  him  and  his  followers  in  his  own  dominions,  and 
entreat  them  with  all  honor,  giving  him  a  high  command 
in  his  armies,  and  places  according  to  their  rank  and 
ability  for  his  men. 

"  Therefore,"  continued  Uriah,  "  if  my  lord  David  re 
fuses  to  meet  the  Lord's  anointed  in  battle,  ere  Saul  sur 
rounds  us  with  his  hosts  to  take  us  in  a  snare,  let  my  lord 
pass  over  with  all  his  force  unto  Achish,  king  of  Gath." 

David,  determining  to  follow  this  counsel,  a  few  days 
afterwards  marched  from  his  fastnesses,  and  crossing  the 
country  of  Judea,  came  to  the  court  of  the  King  of  the 
Philistines,  who  received  him  gladly,  and  gave  him  a 
palace  near  his  own  to  dwell  in,  and  places  for  his  fol 
lowers. 

Before  David  left  his  camp  in  the  forest  of  Ziph,  to 
pass  over  to  Philistia,  an  interesting  incident  occurred 
which  led  to  his  marriage,  Michal  having  been  taken 
from  him  by  her  father.  I  have  already  alluded,  your 
majesty,  to  Xabal  betrothed  to  the  lovely  village  maiden, 


392  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

Abigail,  who  gave  David  water  when,  the  year  befor3.  a 
fugitive  he  sat  thirsty  and  weary  by  the  well  under  tho 
palm  trees.  The  bridegroom,  who  was  much  her  senior, 
and  whom  she  had  married  by  compulsion  on  the  part 
of  her  parents  for  his  great  wealth  in  flocks,  herds,  and 
lands,  proved  an  avaricious  and  churlish  man,  and  treated 
her  rather  as  his  slave  than  his  wife.  While  David  and 
his  followers  were  encamped  between  Maon  and  Carmel 
where  Nabal  dwelt  with  his  young  wife,  he  would  have 
lost  a  portion  of  his  flocks  by  the  incursion  of  a  band 
of  desert  robbers,  but  for  the  assistance  of  David's  men, 
who  drove  them  away,  and  gave  protection  to  the  herds 
men. 

Some  weeks  afterwards,  David  being  greatly  in  want 
of  provisions  for  his  garrison,  and  recalling  the  service 
his  people  had  done  the  rich  Nabal,  he  sent  to  Nabal  ten 
men  to  bring  whatsoever  he  could  spare,  bidding  his  mes 
sengers  say  to  him :  "  Peace  be  both  to  thee,  and  peace 
be  to  thine  house,  and  peace  be  unto  all  thou  hast ! 
Whatsoever  cometh  to  thine  hand  give  unto  the  servants 
of  thy  son  David." 

When  the  men  came  to  Nabal,  and  delivered  their 
captain's  gracious  words,  he  roughly  answered  them : 

"  Who  is  David,  and  who  is  the  son  of  Jesse  ye  speak 
of?  There  be  many  servants  now-a-days  that  break 
away  from  their  masters  !  Shall  I  take  bread,  and  flesh, 
and  water,  and  give  it  unto  men  whom  I  know  not  whence 
they  be?" 

When  the  young  men  returned  to  David,  and  reported 
his  words  to  him,  his  indignation  was  justly  kindled  at 
this  treatment  by  Nabal  of  one  who  had  done  him  ser 
vice. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PKINCE  ABSALOM.      393 

"  Gird  ye  on  every  man  his  sword  !"  he  cried,  buckling 
on  his  own  sword;  and  at  the  head  of  four  hundred  of  his 
men  of  war,  he  hastened  to  punish  Nabal  for  his  inhos 
pitable  conduct.  News  of  his  march  came  to  the  ears 
of  his  young  and  beautiful  wife,  and  when  she  knew  all, 
(for  she  had  not  seen  David's  messengers,  who  had  met 
Nabal  in  the  field,)  in  great  alarm  she  secretly  made 
haste,  and  took  two  hundred  loaves  of  bread,  two  skins 
of  wine,  five  dressed  sheep,  five  measures  of  parched 
corn,  a  hundred  clusters  of  raisins,  and  two  hundred 
cakes  of  figs,  and  lading  several  beasts  with  them,  she 
went  forward  with  her  servants  to  meet  David.  When 
she  came  near  she  alighted,  and  bowed  herself  to  the 
ground,  and  when  he  raised  her  up,  he,  with  surprise 
arid  pleasure,  recognized  the  fair  face  of  the  maiden  he 
had  seen  at  the  well.  Eloquently  she  entreated  him  to 
forego  his  vengeance,  and  accept  the  peace-oifering  she 
had  brought.  The  young  captain  received  of  her  hand  her 
gifts,  and  said  :  "  Go  in  peace  to  thine  house.  Thou  hast 
prevailed,  and  for  thy  sake  I  spare  thy  offending  lord  !" 

When  Nabal,  on  her  return,  was  informed  by  her  how 
David  in  fierce  wrath  was  coming  upon  him,  with  four 
hundred  armed  men,  to  destroy  him,  and  how  she  had 
averted  the  danger,  his  heart  sunk  within  him,  and  struck 
as  with  lightning,  he  fell  back  paralyzed.  Ten  days 
afterwards  he  died. 

When  David  heard  of  the  death  of  Nabal,  and  the 
days  of  her  mourning  were  passed,  he  sent  to  her  and 
asked  her  to  become  his  wife ;  and  not  long  before  the 
departure  of  David  to  pass  over  to  the  court  of  Achish, 
he  married  the  beautiful  widow  of  Nabal,  and  took  her 
with  him  into  the  land  of  the  Philistines. 


394  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

At  the  court  of  Acliish  David  remained  nearly  a  year 
and  a  half,  serving  him  as  a  captain  in  his  wars,  and  in 
creasing  his  own  fame  as  a  warrior.  The  King  of  Gath 
gave  him  and  his  followers  a  city  in  the  south  to  dwell 
in,  called  Ziklag.  Saul,  in  the  meanwhile,  no  longer 
able  to  pursue  David,  disbanded  his  army,  and  remained 
in  his  palace,  ill  in  spirit  and  body,  and  Prince  Jonathan 
his  son  never  left  him,  but,  with  noble,  filial  devotion, 
anticipated  all  his  wants,  and  gave  him  his  tenderest 
sympathy  in  all  the  darkness  and  bitterness  under  which 
his  soul  dwelt.  Since  the  death  of  Samuel,  and  the 
flight  of  David,  the  Hebrew  king  had  ceased  to  take  an 
interest  in  any  thing.  Few  of  his  people  saw  him,  and 
he  gave  audience  to  no  one  save  through  his  son,  who 
strove  with  beautiful  charity  to  conceal  his  father's  fail 
ing,  and  to  keep  the  kingdom  together  with  some  show 
of  government.  There  was  no  High  Priest  no  Prophet 
in  the  land  for  the  miserable  monarch  to  resort  to ;  for 
Abiathar,  the  lawful  pontiff,  was  with  David  in  Philistia. 
Without  God,  without  prophet,  without  priest,  and  it 
might,  be  said,  without  king,  the  land  of  Israel  was  in  a 
desolate  estate,  and  no  man  had  heart  or  hope,  but  only 
a  prevailing  apprehension  of  coming  evil ! 

Achish,  King  of  Gath,  who  seems  to  have  been  a  saga 
cious  and  warlike  prince,  with  deadly  hatred  of  Saul, 
and  an  ambition  to  subdue  Judea  to  his  sceptre,  took 
advantage  of  this  state  of  affairs  to  prepare  a  vast  army 
for  the  invasion  of  his  kingdom.  Marching  northwardly, 
he  intended  to  strike  the  Jordan,  east  of  Mount  Tabor, 
and  so  descend  the  valley  of  the  river,  take  Jericho,  and 
thus  hold  the  key  of  the  land  of  Israel.  He  desired, 
also,  to  separate  the  Hebrews  on  the  west  of  the  river 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      395 

from  those  on  the  east,  and  so  place  Saul  between  the 
Philistines  on  the  Jordan,  and  the  Philistines  in  their  own 
country  westward. 

But  Prince  Jonathan,  whose  counsel  Saul  sought  in  all 
things  distrustful  of  himself,  advised  the  king  to  hasten 
his  march  to  check  the  Philistines  in  the  pass  between 
Mount  Gilboa  on  the  south,  and  Mount  Hermon  on  the 
north.  When  King  Saul,  Jonathan,  and  his  two  bro 
thers,  at  the  head  of  the  army  of  Israel,  reached  the 
foot  of  Mount  Gilboa,  Achish  hnd  already  pitched  his 
camp  in  the  valley  before  it,  Gilboa  being  on  one  side  to 
the  south,  and  Tabor  also  in  sight,  but  far  to  the  north. 
The  two  armies,  the  largest  the  hostile  nations  had 
brought  into  the  field  since  the  days  of  Eli,  were  en 
camped  within  sight  of  Saul,  who  pitched  his  camp  on 
the  sides  of  Gilboa,  opposite  the  valley  of  Shunem,  where 
Achish  lay.  Saul  and  Jonathan  ascended  the  mountain 
behind  their  camp,  and  surveyed  the  vast  hosts  of  the 
enemy  covering  all  the  plain.  Jonathan's  heart  failed 
him,  because  he  had  heard  that  David  was  in  the  camp 
of  Achish  in  high  command,  and  lie  feared  to  fight,  op 
posed  to  him  !  The  great  numbers  of  his  adversaries, 
however,  filled  the  king's  soul  with  dismay.  He  trem 
bled  as  he  leaned  upon  his  spear,  and  gazed  down  upon 
the  thousands  of  the  army  of  Achish. 

"Is  there  not  one  of  the  race  of  Ithamar,  not  a  priest 
of  the  house  of  Eli  or  Ahimelech,  in  the  army  that  I  can 
inquire  of  God?"  he  asked  of  his  armor-bearer,  Doeg, 
the  Edomite,  who  stood  behind  him. 

uNot  one,  my  lord,  save  Zadoc,  whom  thou  hast 
made  priest,"  answered  Doeg.  "I  finished  niy  work 
that  day  at  Nob  faithfully." 


396  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

"Where  is  Abiathar,  son  of  Ahimelech?"  demanded 
Saul.  "Doth  he  yet  live?" 

"He  is  with  David,"  replied  Jonathan. 

"Would  I  had  Abiathar  here  to  enquire  of  God  for 
me;  him  will  he  hear,"  said  Saul.  "Zadoc  to  whom  I 
have  given  the  High  Priesthood,  hath  no  answers  from 
God.  And  David,  too,  is  in  yonder  camp!  It  is  well 
he  hideth  from  my  arm,  under  the  plume  of  Achish  and 
his  gods!" 

"Nay,  my  lord,"  said  Ishbosheth  his  son,  coming  up 
the  hill,  in  company  with  his  brother  Melchisua,  draw 
ing  near  the  king;  "David  I  hear  is  not  with  Achish. 
The  King  of  Gath  made  him  and  his  six  hundred  men 
come  a  part  of  the  way  with  him ;  but  his  lords  and  chief 
captains  took  alarm,  and  told  the  king  that  he  ought  not 
to  trust  him,  saying  he  would  be  sure  in  this  battle  to  go 
over  to  his  countrymen,  and  turn  his  sword  against  them. 
Achish  could  not  prevail  that  he  might  keep  David,  and 
sent  the  son  of  Jesse  back  to  Ziklag,  his  town  in  the 
land  of  the  Philistines."  This  Ishbosheth  was  the  young 
est  son  of  the  king,  and  a  young  man  who  loved  rich 
apparel,  and  indulged  more  in  pleasure  than  in  arms; 
an  elegant  and  vain  youth. 

This  intelligence  was  gratifying  to  the  prince,  who 
felt  he  should  go  into  battle  now  with  a  brave  heart. 

"Doeg,"  said  Saul,  leaning  on  the  shoulder  of  his 
armor-bearer,  as  he  descended  the  mountain,  first  com 
manding  his  sons  to  go  on  before  him,  and  speaking 
softly  in  his  ear,  "knowest  thou  of  a  woman  that  hath 
a  familiar  spirit?  It  is  in  vain  for  me  to  enquire  of 
God  as  to  the  issue  of  the  coming  battle  by  dreams,  or 
by  prophet,  by  priest,  or  by  Urim !  The  heavens  are 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PllIXCE    ABSALOM.  397 

brass!  Sleep  comes  not!  Samuel  is  dead!  The  High 
Priest  with  the  Urim  and  Thummim  is  with  the  son  of 
Jesse !  Seek  ye,  therefore,  a  woman  that  hath  a  familiar 
spirit,  that  1  may  go  to  her  and  enquire  of  her." 

Then  answered  the  Edomite,  "There  is  a  woman,  my 
lord,  that  hath  a  familiar  spirit,  who  dwclleth  beyond 
Shiuiem,  over  the  hill  of  Hermon,  in  the  little  village  of 
Endor,  which  lieth  south  of  Mount  Tabor." 

"Is  it  far  hence,  Doeg?"  inquired  Saul. 

"Ten  miles  in  a  direct  route,  but  twelve  or  more  to 
go  about  among  the  hills,"  answered  Doeg. 

That  night,  after  the  camp  guard  of  the  first  watch 
had  been  posted,  and  the  stars  alone  gave  light  upon  the 
hostile  hosts,  Saul,  disguised  in  the  coarse  attire  of  a 
man-at-arms,  and  with  no  sign  of  royalty  about  his  per 
son,  save  his  kingly  bearing  which  could  hardly  be  con 
cealed,  stole  from  his  camp.  He  was  attended  by  two 
men,  Doeg  and  Amasa,  the  armor-bearer  of  Abner,  a 
young  man,  son  of  David's  sister,  but  who  held  firmly  to 
Saul's  side  in  the  war  he  made  against  his  heroic  kins 
man. 

The  masked  king,  led  by  Doeg,  kept  near  the  foot  of 
Gilboa,  until  they  had  got  far  enough  eastwardly  to 
avoid  the  out-posts  of  the  enemy,  which  were  extended 
along  the  plain,  and  then  boldly  struck  across  the  open 
valley  to  the  foot  of  Hermon.  Under  its  dark  shadows 
they  followed  the  herdsmen's  paths,  until  they  came  to 
the  other  side  of  the  low  mountain;  when,  far  in  the 
north,  the  black  form  of  Mount  Tabor,  indistinctly  re 
lieved  against  the  sky,  and  hiding  many  of  its  stars,  be 
came  their  guide.  In  an  hour  more  they  left  the  village 
of  Nain  on  the  left,  in  silent  repose  under  the  hills,  and 


398  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

entered  the  obscure  hamlet  of  Endor.  Doeg  led  the 
king  to  a  base  looking  habitation,  and  said, 

"This  is  the  place!" 

The  king,  wearied  with  his  long  night  tramp  over 
hill  and  plain,  through  glen  and  mountain  gorge,  re 
joiced  at  its  termination.  The  woman  timidly  unbarred 
her  gate:  for  Saul,  after  the  death  of  Ahimelech,  hearing 
that  the  people,  being  without  oracle  or  priesthood, 
sought  wizards  and  diviners,  and  familiar  spirits  to  in 
quire  of  them,  forbade,  on  pain  of  death,  such  enquiries 
to  be  made ;  thereby  showing  that  he  still  retained  some 
thing  of  the  grace  of  his  former  piety.  He  commanded 
by  an  edict  all  who  had  familiar  spirits,  necromancers, 
and  fortune-tellers,  were  they  men  or  women,  to  be  slain 
or  driven  out  of  his  kingdom ! 

It  must  have  been,  therefore,  with  the  most  abject 
sense  of  debasement  that  he  now  stood  in  the  door  of 
this  mean  habitation,  whither  he  had  come  degradingly 
disguised,  to  consult  the  sorceress  of  Endor,  who  had  hid 
herself  in  this  obscure  place  of  his  kingdom  from  his 
sanginuary  edict  against  her  profession. 

"  Open,  woman !  Dost  thou  not  hear  me?  I  bring  in 
my  hand  for  thee  a  purse  of  gold!"  called  out  Doeg, 
who  carried  with  him  a  camp  lantern,  whereby  he  had 
been  able  to  light  the  king's  steps  through  the  dark  de 
files  of  Hermon. 

"  I  fear  me  also  a  sword  in  thine  other !"  she  an- 
Bwered. 

"Nay ;  we  be  three  soldiers  of  the  camp  of  Saul,  who 
come  hither  to  learn  of  thee  how  the  battle,  we  are  soon 
to  fight,  will  go  !" 

The  door  being  carefully  opened,  after  she  had  looked 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      399 

from  within  fixedly  at  the  three  men,  Doeg  "went  in, 
followed  by  the  king,  while  the  other  stood  on  watch 
without.  The  rude  apartment,  revealed  by  the  rays  of 
the  lantern,  was  scarcely  a  fit  abode  for  any  one.  In 
one  corner  reposed  a  white  calf,  and  on  a  shelf  above  it 
sat  a  raven  gray  with  age.  The  woman  lighted  an  old 
Tyrian  soldier's  lamp,  which  she  had  doubtless  found  on 
some  battle-field.  Saul  gazed  with  deep  earnestness 
upon  the  tall,  aged  dame,  whose  silvery  hair,  bound  by 
a  fillet  smoothly  about  her  lofty  forehead,  with  her  grave 
and  modest  costume,  gave  her  an  air  of  dignity  he  was  not 
prepared  for.  Her  dark  face,  once  superbly  beautiful, 
was  still  distinguished  by  large,  splendid  eyes,  a  noble  and 
regular  profile,  and  a  firm  mouth  with  finely  shaped  lips. 
Her  face  had  the  refined,  oval  contour  which  is  characteris 
tic  of  the  Phoenician  women,  for  she  was  a  native  of  Tyre, 
as  her  speech  and  aspect  proved  to  the  king.  In  age, 
she  was  not  more  than  fifty.  With  a  sort  of  queenly 
air,  native  to  her  notwithstanding  all  her  poverty,  she 
said,  looking  at  Saul,  and  distinguishing  him  at  once  as 
the  superior  of  the  two  men, 

"For  what  dost  tliou  visit  me?" 

For  a  moment  the  king  of  Israel  made  no  reply.  lie 
hesitated  to  strike  the  last  blow  to  sever  the  golden 
chain  which  bound  him  to  his  God ;  for  the  act  he  now 
contemplated  had  no  equal  in  impiety.  It  was  a  volun 
tary  and  deliberate  renunciation  of  the  Oracles  of  God 
for  the  accursed  vaticinations  of  an  evil  spirit.  Alas  ! 
how  had  the  august,  and  once  glorious,  king  fallen ! 
How  had  his  proud  spirit  become  abased  to  the  dust ! 
How  far  had  he  sunk  into  infidelity,  and  the  absence  of 
all  moral  feeling  !  How  deliberately  was  ke  approach- 


400         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

ing  the  verge  of  the  precipice,  over  which  he  was  to 
plunge  into  everlasting  night ! 

What  a  painful,  pitiable  spectacle  to  humanity,  to  an 
gels,  to  God,  is  he,  as  he  stands  there  in  that  low  hut,  his 
sandals  soiled  with  his  long  night-walk,  his  coarse  mantle 
torn  by  thorns,  his  gray  locks  wet  with  the  dews  of  the 
hills,  his  whole  appearance  desolate  and  care-worn,  and 
in  his  heart  a  keen  sense  of  degradation ;  the  light  of 
shame  kindling  his  cheek,  that  even  his  familiar  Doeg 
should  behold  him  thus  humbled  and  superstitious.  He 
hesitates  for  another  moment,  ere  his  soul  cuts  itself  off 
from  God,  and  answers  her : 

"  I  pray  thee,  0  Tyrian,  divine  unto  me,  by  thy  fa 
miliar  spirit,  and  bring  him  up  to  me  whom  I  shall  name 
unto  thee !" 

"  I  am  here  a  lonely  widow,  0  sir  !  I  am  poor,  and 
have  but  this  one  calf  in  the  world.  I  subsist  by  my  dis 
taff,  and  try  to  live  humbly  in  peace,  as  becometh  a 
stranger  in  the  land.  Wherefore  comest  thou  to  me  to 
get  me  into  trouble  with  the  king  thereof?  Behold,  thou 
knowest  what  Saul  hath  done  ;  how  he  hath  cut  off  those 
that  have  familiar  spirits  and  the  wizards  out  of  the 
land :  wherefore  then  layest  thou  a  snare  for  my  life  to 
cause  me  to  die?" 

The  king's  conscience  as  well  as  his  pride  felt  keenly 
the  rebuke  implied  by  her  words  ;  but  he  answered  her 
with  this  solemn  oath  : 

"As  the  Lord  liveth,  woman,  there  shall  no  punish 
ment  happen  to  thee  for  this  thing." 

Re-assured,  the  woman  said,  fixing  her  mysterious  eyes 
upon  him, 

"  Whom  shall  I  bring  up  before  thee  from  the  shades  ?" 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      401 

"Bring  me  up  Samuel!"  answered  Saul,  in  a  voice 
low  and  tremulous  ;  at  this  hour  of  his  greatest  trial, 
having  no  other  trust  but  in  him  who  had  once  guided 
him  by  his  counsels,  and  also  by  his  reproofs.  Samuel 
dead,  was  to  him  wiser  than  Saul  living — Saul  in  his 
hopeless  despair! 

The  woman,  with  singular  solemnity,  then  proceeded 
with  a  wand  which  she  took  in  her  hand,  to  separate  her 
self  from  the  king  and  his  companion  by  inscribing  an 
imaginary  ring  about  herself.  She  chanted  in  low  voice 
a  verse  of  mystic  words,  and  then  cast  upon  a  censer  of 
fire  some  strange  fragrance  ;  retiring  from  the  circle,  her 
whole  form  dilating  and  majestic,  and  her  dark  eyes 
flashing  with  a  sort  of  terrible  and  wicked  splendor,  she 
cried  aloud  in  Syriac,  "Appear  !" 

The  floor  of  the  hut,  within  the  circle,  seemed  in 
stantly  to  disappear,  and,  in  its  place,  yawned  a  cavern 
ous  gulf,  from  the  dark  abyss  of  which  majestically  as 
cended  a  venerable  form  like  a  god  in  aspect,  enveloped 
in  a  halo  of  misty  light.  Saul  saw  not  the  awful  shape, 
but,  feeling  its  presence,  had  covered  his  face  with  his 
mantle. 

"Why  hast  thou  deceived  me?"  cried  the  divineress, 
with  a  loud  voice  of  mingled  terror  and  anger,  as  if  the 
shape  had  uttered  to  her  the  name  of  the  king  ,  "for  thou 
art  Saul!" 

"  Fear  net  for  thyself,"  said  Saul.  •  What  dost  thou 
see?" 

"I  see  a  god  ascending  out  of  the  earth,"  she  an 
swered,  with  a  voice  of  alarm. 

"What  form  is  he  of?"  demanded  Saul. 
26 


402  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID  J    OR, 

"  An  aged  man  cometh  up,  and  he  is  covered  with  a 
mantle  like  a  prophet  of  the  Lord." 

Then  Saul  knew  that  it  was  Samuel,  and  he  prostrated 
himself  to  the  earth  before  him. 

"  Wherefore,  0  Saul,"  said  the  voice  of  the  phantasma, 
"  hast  thou  called  me  from  the  abodes  of  the  happy  dead, 
where  in  hope  and  peace  we  await  the  end  of  time,  and 
the  kingdom  of  God,  at  rest  from  the  cares  of  this  earth  ?" 

Saul  trembled  at  this  solemn  address,  uttered  in  tones 
that  seemed  like  echoes  from  the  depths  of  Hades.  He 
made  no  reply,  and  the  shade  of  the  Seer  continued  more 
sternly : 

"  Why  hast  thou  disquieted  me  to  bring  me  up?" 

Then  the  king  answered,  rising  to  his  knees,  but  with 
out  lifting  his  eyes  to  the  mighty  apparition,  his  voice 
touched  with  the  profoundest  sadness  and  helplessness : 

"  I  am  sore  distressed,  0  Samuel !  for  the  Philistines 
make  war  against  me,  and  God  is  departed  from  me,  and 
answereth  me  no  more  neither  by  prophets  nor  by  dreams ; 
therefore,  I  have  called  thee,  that  thou  mayest  make 
known  unto  me  what  I  shall  do  !" 

Then  the  voice  of  the  form  within  the  dim  cloud  of 
light  answered,  and  said:  " Wherefore,  then,  dost  thou 
ask  of  me,  seeing  the  Lord  is  departed  from  thee,  and  is 
become  thine  enemy  ?  The  Lord  hath  done  to  thee,  0 
King,  even  as  he  spake  by  me  to  thee ;  for  he  hath  rent 
the  kingdom  out  of  thine  hand  and  is  about  to  give  it 
to  David  !  Because  thou  obeyedst  not  the  voice  of  thy 
God  in  Gilgal,  nor  executedst  his  command  against 
Amalek,  therefore  hath  the  Lord  ordained  this  thing 
against  thee,  and  taketh  thy  kingdom,  and  giveth  it  to 
thy  neighbor  !  Thou  hast  come  hither  to  know  what 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.     403 

shall  be  thy  fate  in  the  battle  to-morrow  !  Lo,  the  Lord 
will  deliver  thee  into  the  hand  of  the  Philistines,  and 
to-morrow  shalt  thou  and  thy  three  sons  be  with  me,  and 
all  the  hosts  of  Israel  shall  the  Lord  deliver  into  the 
hand  of  the  Philistines  !" 

When  Saul  heard  these  fatal  words,  he  fell  his  whole 
length  forward  on  his  face  to  the  floor,  and  became  in 
sensible  !  The  majestic  and  mournful  spectre,  gazing 
upon  the  prostrate  king  with  eyes  of  sadness  and  divine 
sorrow,  slowly  descended  into  the  earth,  and  silence  and 
darkness  succeeded  ! 

The  woman,  who  had  stood  transfixed  with  horror  and 
awe  while  the  solemn  colloquy  went  on,  and  who,  by  her 
looks  of  amazement,  had  riot  expected  a  spirit  to  appear 
in  answer  to  her  harmless  incantations,  now  pale  as  a 
corpse  sank  upon  the  floor,  and  shuddered  with  terror 
at  what  she  had  heard  and  seen ;  while  Doeg,  the  Edo- 
mite,  at  the  first  appearance  of  the  awful  shape  out  of 
the  abyss,  fled  from  the  house  in  speechless  horror ;  even 
the  poor  dumb  brute,  tied  in  the  corner  of  the  room, 
trembled  all  over  in  the  most  extraordinary  manner,  the 
perspiration  pouring  from  its  sides  like  rain. 

When  the  woman,  who  really  could  have  had  no  power 
over  the  dead,  and  especially  over  good  men,  to  disturb 
their  celestial  rest,  and  bring  them  into  this  world  when 
she  pleased,  at  the  call  of  wicked  men,  and  who  only  plied 
her  deceiving  art  for  gain  on  the  ignorant  and  supersti 
tious — when  she  was  finally  able  to  rise,  she  drew  near  to 
Saul  who  lay  as  one  dead.  Her  efforts,  aided  by  his  two 
attendants  whom  she  called  in,  at  length  restored  the 
king,  and  he  stood  tremblingly  on  his  feet.  But  the  ter 
rible  scene  he  had  passed  through,  with  the  need  of  rest 


4-04  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

and  food,  (for  he  had  eaten  nothing  during  all  the  day  and 
night,)  and  above  all,  the  words  of  his  sentence  of  death 
sounding  in  his  ears,  so  unmanned  him  that  it  became 
necessary  he  should  be  supported  by  them  to  a  bed. 

"Pardon  thine  handmaid,  my  lord,"  said  the  woman. 
"I  but  obeyed  thy  voice,  and  put  my  life  in  thy  hand. 
I  knew  not  what  terrible  thing  would  be !  Let  my  lord 
take  courage  and  eat  a  morsel  of  bread,  that  thou  mayest 
have  strength  when  thou  goest  away,  for  thou  art  sorely 
tried!"  But  sick  at  heart,  depressed  and  wretched  in 
mind,  and  all  hope  buried  forever,  conscious  of  his  guilt, 
and  trembling  under  the  divine  displeasure  of  his  God, 
who  had  numbered  his  days  and  finished  his  kingdom, 
he  refused  to  eat  or  to  be  comforted. 

At  length,  exhausted,  he  fell  asleep.  In  the  mean 
while  the  hospitable  woman  directed  Doeg  and  Amasa, 
the  armor-bearer  of  Abner,  to  take  her  little  calf,  that 
she  petted  and  kept  in  her  house  like  a  child,  and 
kill  it,  and  dress  it  for  their  feast ;  while  she  took  flour 
and  kneaded  it,  and  baked  bread,  and  diligently  pre 
pared  a  bountiful  meal  for  the  king  when  he  should 
awake.  When  all  was  ready,  Doeg,  now  knowing  it  was 
time,  if  they  would  unseen  reach  the  camp  before  day 
should  break,  to  call  the  king  who  had  slept  two  hours, 
aroused  him.  To  their  surprise,  he  arose  calm  and  col 
lected,  all  trace  of  care  and  trouble  gone;  nay,  his  very 
voice  was  stronger  and  more  cheerful  than  his  two  ser 
vants  had  heard  it  for  a  long  time !  He  gladly  sat  down 
to  the  table  which  the  foreign  woman  had  so  unselfishly 
and  kindly  prepared,  and  ate  heartily ;  and  when  he 
arose  to  go  he  thanked  her  for  her  hospitality,  and  would 
have  rewarded  her  with  the  purse  of  gold  which  Doeg 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      405 

brought  at  his  girdle.  But  she  refused  all  gains  from 
the  king,  and  so  he  departed  from  her  house  strong  in 
boiy  and  mind,  to  return  to  his  camp. 

Without  doubt,  your  majesty,  Saul's  sudden  calmness 
and  even  cheerfulness,  arose  from  that  extraordinary  at 
tribute  in  our  nature,  which  leads  us  to  be  more  at  ease 
under  a  certainty,  even  though  it  be  certain  evil,  than 
in  a  state  of  uncertainty  and  doubt,  and  a  restless  fear 
of  evil  to  come;  as,  oftentimes,  the  wild  terror  of  a 
criminal  at  the  fear  of  being  sentenced  to  die,  ceases 
when  that  sentence  is  irrevocable.  Thus  King  Saul, 
long  torn  and  tossed  by  unspeakable  fears  and  terrors 
anxieties  and  guilt,  dying  a  thousand  deaths  in  the 
fear  of  death,  enduring  a  thousand  punishments  in  the 
living  apprehension  of  God's  wrath,  tortured  more  keenly 
by  the  dread  of  losing  his  kingdom,  than  the  actual  loss 
of  a  score  of  sceptres  would  have  moved  him,  with  the 
consciousness  that  all  was  now  determined  upon  him, 
and  that  on  the  morrow  he  would  certainly  lose  his  king 
dom  and  his  life,  and  join  Samuel  in  the  abodes  of  the 
dead — thus,  his  tempest-lashed  bosom  was  suddenly 
calmed,  as  when  a  mighty  tornado  bursts  upon  the  sea, 
levels  the  billows  which  lesser  winds  have  raised,  and 
leaves  the  dark  ocean  calm  in  the  highest  of  the  storm ! 

As  the  morning  star  above  Hermon  was  fading  into 
the  pale  golden  sky  of  the  breaking  day,  Saul  and  his 
companions  re-entered  the  lines  of  the  Hebrew  camp;  and 
unrecognized,  the  king  reached  his  pavilion,  his  guards, 
and  even  Abner,  still  asleep  around  about  it. 

The  monarch,  as  he  softly  entered,  beheld  Prince 
Jonathan  sleeping  calmly  on  his  war-couch, in  the  corner 
of  the  tent,  and  his  two  brothers  reposing  one  on  each 


406  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

side  of  him.  He  stood  and  gazed  thoughtfully  down 
upon  them!  His  eyes  rested  upon  the  princely  and 
handsome  form  of  his  eldest  son ;  then  fell  upon  the  face 
of  the  next  oldest,  Melchisua,  who,-from  childhood  an  in 
valid  in  the  palace,  seldom  left  his  home,  or  went  to  the 
wars ;  but  whom  filial  affection  now  brought  to  the  field ; 
for  all  the  land  instinctively  knew  that  the  coming  bat 
tle  was  to  decide  the  fate  of  the  kingdom,  either  for  Saul 
or  against  him ! 

His  gaze  rested  longest  on  the  proud  and  elegant  fea 
tures  of  Ishbosheth  his  youngest  son.  "Alas,  my  poor 
boys!  my  brave  and  beautiful  sons!  How  calmly  ye 
sleep !  The  prophet  said  three  of  my  sons  are  to  go  with 
me  to-morrow,  and  be  with  him  in  the  solemn  shades ! 
He  named  not  which  of  the  four !  Is  it  thou,  0  noble 
Jonathan,  son  of  my  pride,  worthy  to  wear  a  crown  and 
wield  a  sceptre  for  thy  virtues,  wisdom,  and  courage ! 
or,  thou,  my  poor  delicate  boy,  whose  misfortunes  should 
have  kept  thee  in  thy  mother's  boudoir,  rather  than  that 
mine  should  have  brought  thee  upon  this  battle  plain, 
where  to-morrow  DEATH,  armed  with  ten  thousand 
scythes  to  his  chariot  wheels,  shall  mow  Israel  down  as 
the  mower  cuts  the  ripened  harvest !  or  is  it  thou,  lordly 
and  beautiful  prince,  my  brave  and  wayward  Ishbosheth, 
who  art  to  join  me,  and  two  of  thy  three  brothers,  as  to 
morrow  night  I  lead  the  long  procession  of  my  army  of 
the  dead,  down  to  the  gloomy  realms  of  Sheol?  As  for 
thy  father,  he  knoweth  certainly  that  his  doom  is  to 
die !  God  spare  thee,  0  Ishbosheth,  with  thy  fair  moth 
er's  smile,  and  dark  shining  tresses ! 

At  this  moment  Abner  entered!  The  king  instantly 
banished  from  his  face  all  emotion.  With  the  old  look 


THE    REBELLION    OF   PRINCE    ABSALOM.  40? 

of  the  proud  warrior  in  his  eyes,  and  his  voice  as  afore 
time  ringing  like  a  trumpet,  Saul  called  to  his  surprised 
and  overjoyed  general  and  said, 

"  To-morrow  we  give  battle  to  our  foes  !  Let  to-day 
be  spent  in  careful  preparation.  Let  nothing  be  lacking 
to  bring  our  whole  army  into  the  battle  in  the  best  pos 
sible  condition  for  fighting.  To-morrow,  my  Abner, 
will  be  fought  the  greatest  battle  between  kings  that  ever 
shook  the  plains  of  Israel." 

The  next  morning,  Saul  put  his  army  in  battle-array. 
His  martial  spirit  inspired  his  lords,  captains,  and  all  his 
men-at-arms.  Abner,  his  general,  could  hardly  believe  the 
change  he  witnessed,  and  said  to  Jonathan, 

"  We  shall  win  the  field,  for  the  king  has  victory 
blazing  in  his  eyes.  He  will  fight  to-day  as  he  used  to 
do  battle  in  his  glorious  youth." 

"  Thou  art  sure  David  is  not  in  the  ranks  of  Achish  ?" 
asked  Jonathan. 

"  The  king  hath  sent  him  back  to  keep  his  country  till 
his  return,  for  all  his  lords  refused  to  fight  if  he  were 
retained,"  answered  the  general. 

At  length,  the  two  armies  approached  each  other,  led 
by  their  kings :  Achish  standing  up  in  his  war-chariot, 
drawn  by  four  white  horses  abreast,  his  helmet  of  gold 
and  his  splendid  armor  glittering  like  the  sun.  Saul 
rode  a  large,  coal-black,  war  horse,  and  looked  the  very 
personation  of  Mars  in  the  field,  challenging  to  battle  ! 
His  tall  and  commanding  stature,  his  martial  air,  his  war 
like  and  courageous  aspect,  with  the  light  of  battle 
flashing  from  his  eyes,  kindled  the  pride  of  his  own  army 
and  filled  even  his  foes  with  admiration.  By  his  right 
side  rode  Jonathan,  clad  in  rich  armor;  and  on  his  left 


408  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID,    OR, 

hand,  Prince  Melchisua ;  while,  attended  by  Ishbosheth, 
glittering  like  a  star,  and  by  Abinadab,  another  royal 
prince  who  had  just  arrived  on  the  field,  Abner,  in  his 
chariot,  commanded  in  another  part  of  the  plain. 

There  is  something  august,  if  not  sublime,  in  the  moral 
spectacle  presented  by  King  Saul  at  this  moment.  He 
knew  that  on  that  day  he  was  to  die — that  his  long  reign, 
the  last  portion  of  it  so  full  of  woe,  and  of  transgression 
against  heaven,  was  to  end  before  the  sun,  which  then 
was  rising  above  the  pleasant  valley  of  the  Jordan,  should 
set  beyond  the  dark  mountains  of  Megiddo ;  yet  (as  doubt 
less  a  king  of  inferior  courage  and  dignity  would  have 
done)  he  did  not  seek  to  avoid  his  fate;  did  not  for  a 
moment  shrink  from  his  destiny  !  The  idea  of  flying 
from  his  doom  seems  never  to  have  entered  this  extraor 
dinary  man's  thoughts.  He  felt  ready,  rather,  to  offer 
his  life  a  sacrifice  to  his  offended  God,  who  had  demanded 
it  of  him.  He  seemed  to  feel  that  his  iniquities  required 
a  victim,  and  that  victim,  himself.  Some  lingering  traces 
of  his  ancient  piety,  some  fragments  of  the  noble  shrine 
of  honor,  which  once  stood  in  the  shattered  temple  of 
his  soul,  remained,  and  he  resolved  to  die  like  a  peni 
tent,  courageous,  and  generous  man,  and  with  the  com 
posed  dignity  of  a  king  who  still  wears  the  regal  robe 
and  royal  crown! 

In  this  sublime  temper  he  went  into  battle.  A  warrior 
in  a  position  like  his  feels  immortal — heeds  neither  sword 
nor  spear,  arrow  nor  javelin,  the  charge  of  horsemen,  nor 
the  rush  of  scythe-armed  chariots.  He  carries  a  charmed 
life!  He  has  already  conquered  death  in  resolving  to 
die,  and  he  fights  like  one  of  the  immortal  gods  of  old, 
whose  life  no  weapon  from  a  human  forge  can  touch 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      409 

He,  who  knows  lie  will  fall  by  an  arrow  from  the  bow 
of  God,  is  invulnerable  in  soul  to  those  of  human  archers. 
Such  a  sublime  feeling  should  have  borne  along  with 
it  the  prestige  of  victory,  and  the  splendor  of  his  battle- 
lit  eyes  should  have  lighted  his  armies  on,  conquering 
and  to  conquer.  But  alas!  it  was  the  false  fires  burning 
on  an  unholy  and  accursed  altar  which  blazed  so  brightly. 
The  coal  which  kindled  those  warlike  orbs  never  burned 
on  the  sacred  altar  of  God.  Their  false  glory  could  only 
lead  the  army,  which  trusted  and  followed,  to  ruin  and 
death. 

At  length,  the  two  armies,  who  have  been  slowly  ap 
proaching  each  other,  ar.  if  ambitious  to  outvie  one  another 
in  the  splendor  of  their  battle-array,  were  separated  the 
space  of  a  long  bow-shot.  The  archers  in  advance  had 
already  begun  to  darken  the  air  with  clouds  of  arrows, 
which  filled  the  calm  air  of  that  sun-bright  morning  with 
the  sound  of  a  thousand  rushing  wings. 

Saul  now  turned,  and,  with  emotions  unutterable,  em 
braced  his  two  sons,  Jonathan  and  Melchisua,  and  bid 
ding  them  fight  for  glory  and  for  God,  and  be  ready 
to  die  for  their  country,  he  ordered  his  trumpeter  to 
sound  to  the  onset.  The  clear  musical  bu^le,  as  it  o-ave 

O        '  to 

the  key-note  of  conflict,  was  joined  by  all  the  trumpets 
and  cornets  in  Saul's  host,  breathing  loud,  defiant  battle 
cries,  until  the  hills  of  Gilboa,  on  the  south,  echoed  the 
sounds,  and  Hermon,  on  the  north,  repeated  them,  until 
three  distinct  armies  seemed  preparing  to  attack  the  Phi 
listine  hosts.  Ere  the  warlike  notes  had  died  away 
among  the  hills,  the  trumpeter  of  King  Achish  had  an 
swered  the  challenge  of  King  Saul's,  and  all  his  brazen 
bugles  caught  up  the  fierce  response.  The  two  armies 


410  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID  ;    OR, 

in  a  few  moments  were  mingled  in  deadly  fight  from  one 
end  of  the  plain  to  the  other.  Long  and  sanguinary 
was  the  contest.  The  superior  numbers  of  the  Philis 
tines  thrice  compelled  the  Hebrews  to  retreat,  and  thrice 
Saul,  with  his  two  sons  by  his  side,  recovered  the  field. 
Where  the  battle  waxed  the  fiercest,  there  his  shining  hel 
met,  with  its  glittering  royal  crest,  towered  as  the  rally 
ing  point  for  his  bravest  warriors. 

All  day  the  two  armies  contested  the  ground ;  now 
rolling  towards  Hermon,  and  breaking  against  its  base, 
to  recede  soon  afterwards  to  dash  against  the  cliffs  of 
Gilboa,  with  a  human  roar  louder  and  fiercer  than  ten 
thousand  billows  of  the  lashed  ocean.  Saul  every  where 
rode  amid  the  battle  storm,  and  wheresoever  his  sword 
waved,  victory  held  the  field ;  but  where  he  was  not, 
Achish  conquered  and  drove  Saul's  army,  pursuing  them 
with  great  slaughter.  At  length,  as  the  sun  was  near 
his  going  down,  the  plain  was  won  by  the  King  of  Gath, 
and  on  every  side  his  foes  had  been  overthrown,  save 
one  part  of  the  dead-strewn  battle-ground,  where  not 
more  than  three  hundred  Hebrews  were  valiantly  and 
desperately  making  a  stand  against  thousands  of  Philis 
tines.  As  the  victorious  Achish,  mounted  upon  one  of 
his  wounded  chariot  horses,  (for  no  chariot  could  now 
traverse  the  plain  on  account  of  the  dead  men  and  the 
wreck  of  battle  which  covered  it,)  drew  near  this  point, 
he  recognized  the  tall  form  of  King  Saul  towering  head 
and  shoulders  above  his  sons  and  warriors,  and,  though 
covered  with  wounds,  fighting  like  a  dying  god  rather 
than  a  man,  so  sublime  was  he  in  this  last  conflict  with 
his  death.  As  Achish  drew  near,  Saul  saw  him,  and, 
sweeping  with  his  mighty  sword  a  space  around,  he  urged 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      411 

his  horse  towards  the  Philistine  king.  So  terrible  was 
his  aspect,  as  he  disengaged  his  charger  from  the  heaps 
of  dead  his  own  hand  had  slain,  so  fierce  his  war-cry, 
that  Achish  feared  the  encounter,  (although  he  could 
plainly  see  that  Saul  reeled  in  his  saddle  from  great  loss 
of  blood,)  and  ordered  his  guard  of  archers  to  destroy 
him!  As  a  majestic  lion  covered  with  wounds  whom 
the  hunters  dare  not  approach,  is  killed  at  a  safe  distance 
with  their  lances  and  arrows,  so  did  the  relentless 
archers  of  unpitying  Achish  discharge  flights  of  arrows 
against  the  King  of  the  Hebrews,  until  the  joints  of  his 
mail  were  penetrated,  and  his  war-horse  fell  to  the  earth 
pierced  with  a  javelin.  The  king  standing  above  him, 
still  fought  on,  slaying  all  who  came  within  the  reach  of 
his  sword,  until  he  saw  the  brave  Prince  Jonathan,  who 
had  fought  by  his  father's  side  all  day,  fall  bleeding 
from  a  score  of  wounds,  and  die  at  his  feet !  His  son 
Abinadab,  valiant  as  the  eagle  the  plumage  of  which 
formed  his  crest,  came  tottering  near  to  protect  his 
brother,  but,  pierced  with  arrows,  fell  upon  the  body  of 
Prince  Jonathan,  his  sword  broken  to  the  hilt  in  his  hand, 
and  expired  also  before  his  father's  eyes.  Melchisua, 
seeing  his  brothers  dead,  lay  down  by  Jonathan,  and 
without  a  wound  breathed  out  his  spirit,  dying  from  ex 
haustion  and  grief.  Saul  stood  and,  as  if  scorning  his 
foes,  gazed  upon  his  dead  sons,  and  said,  bitterly, 

"  These  then,  0  God,  are  the  two  victims  besides 
Jonathan,  heir  to  my  throne,  I  have  had  to  offer  up  to 
thee  for  my  iniquities,  which  sacrifice  will  be  completed 
with  my  own  life !  Ishbosheth  is  then  to  live !  My  bright, 
beautiful  boy  will  be  safe!" 

The  king  then  turned  and  beheld  Abner  his  general 


412  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

all  red  with  blood,  and  looking  like  the  Incarnation  of  a 
battle  field,  coming  up  at  the  head  of  six  hundred 
mounted  Benjamites,  the  king's  own  countrymen,  to  his 
rescue.  By  his  side  rode  Prince  Ishbosheth,  his  golden 
armor  as  bright  as  when  the  morning  sun  was  reflected 
from  it,  his  gay,  azure  and  white  plume  unsoiled,  his 
sword  in  his  hand  still  polished  as  when  drawn  from  its 
scabbard  in  the  morning ;  for  the  mighty  warrior  had 
kept  the  youth  by  his  side  and  defended  him,  many  a 
wound  himself  receiving  thereby,  from  all  the  dangers 
of  that  dreadful  field. 

"Save  the  king!  To  the  rescue!"  shouted  the  warlike 
commander,  who  could  now  collect  only  this  devoted 
remnant  of  his  vast  armies !  On  he  came  like  a  whirlwind. 
The  Philistines,  unprepared  for  this  sudden  onset,  left 
Saul  and  fled,  Achish  in  vain  attempting  to  restrain  them. 
As  Abner  rode  past,  Saul  cried, 

"  God  is  appeased !  Save  Ishbosheth,  0  Abner !  It  is 
in  vain  you  fight  any  longer  !  All  is  lost.  Escape  with 
my  only  son  from  the  field,  I  command  you !  Farewell — 
farewell,  Abner !  Protect  the  boy !  Be  a  father  to  him ! 
Farewell,  my  son !  I  am  going,  I  and  thy  three  brothers, 
to  be  with  Samuel  this  night!" 

Abner  heard  these  words,  and  seeing  that  the  trumpets 
of  the  King  of  Gath  were  calling  for  succors,  he  reined 
up  for  an  instant.  Perceiving  that  Saul  was  dying, 
he  waved  farewell  to  him,  and  took  the  bridle  of  the 
prince's  horse  in  his  grasp  to  prevent  him  from  joining 
his  dying  father,  caused  his  trumpeter  to  sound  the  re 
treat,  and  galloping  with  his  followers  across  the  valley, 
pursued  by  a  squadron  of  mingled  chariots  and  horsemen 
of  the  foe,  he  reached  a  gorge  in  the  mountains,  and  so 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      413 

escaped  into  the  valley  of  the  Jordan,  the  same  night 
with  four  hundred  men  crossing  the  river  safe  from 
pursuit. 

Saul,  after  the  flight  of  Achish  and  his  Philistine 
archers,  was  loft  standing  alone  on  the  side  of  Mount 
Gilboa  where  it  touches  the  plain,  gazing  down  mournfully 
upon  his  sons.  Far  and  wide  around  him  lay  the  dead  and 
dying.  He  alone  stood  up,  leaning  upon  his  sword,  and 
contemplating  sternly  his  dead !  As  when  a  mighty 
sirocco  has  swept  the  sea,  strewing  it  with  wrecks  of 
brave  argosies,  save  one,  the  Admiral's  bark,  which,  shat 
tered  by  the  storm  and  riven  by  lightnings,  still  floats 
alone  a  majestic  ruin,  so  stood  Saul  on  that  death-strewn 
plain  after  the  storm  of  war  had  subsided  !  The  impress 
of  kingly  majesty  still  remained  upon  his  martial  visnge; 
but  he  looked  like  the  rebel  god  of  whom  write  the  He 
brew  books,  who,  rebelling  against  the  supreme  Power 
in  heaven,  with  his  hosts  of  rebel  angels  had  been  over 
thrown,  and  hurled  down  to  earth  with  all  his  followers, 
and  now  stands  contemplating  around  him  the  splendid 
wreck  of  his  celestial  armies,  still  a  god  ! 

"Doeg,"  he  said  to  his  armor-bearer,  who,  having 
fought  like  a  wild  beast  all  day,  lay  near  upon  the 
ground,  "  hast  thou  strength  in  thee  to  get  to  thy  feet?" 

"I  will  try,  0  king,"  he  answered,  and  raising  him 
self  by  his  broken  spear,  he  stood  streaming  with  blood 
from  his  wounds. 

"  Come  near,  and  with  thy  sword  thrust  me  through, 
that  I  may  presently  die,  lest  these  uncircumcised  Phi 
listines  return  and  take  me  alive,  and  abuse  me,  and  put 
out  my  eyes,  and  make  sport  with  me  before  their  gods, 
as  they  did  of  old  with  Samson !" 


414  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

"  Nay,  my  lord,  I  cannot  kill  thee  !  Wait  patiently, 
and  thou  wilt  presently  die  of  thy  many  wounds,"  an 
swered  the  Edomite,  "for  they  are  grievous." 

Then  the  king  looking  about  him,  and  seeing  no  one 
but  an  Auialekite  camp-follower,  who  was  creeping  along 
to  spoil  the  dead,  he  disdained  to  ask  one  so  base  to 
slay  him,  and  raising  his  sword  towards  heaven,  he  cried 
with  the  countenance  and  air  of  some  penitent  High 
Priest  who  is  permitted  once  more  to  offer  sacrifice  for 
sin  to  his  God : 

"  Accept,  0  Lord,  most  mighty,  this  last  and  final  offer 
ing  for  my  crimes,  even  my  own  body,  which  I  now  sacri 
fice  to  Thee,  and  which  Thy  stern  justice  demandeth !  Let 
this  act  of  sacrifice  atone  for  my  sacrilege  !  Let  this 
valley  filled  with  my  slain  servants,  let  these  my  three 
sons  who  lie  here  dead  before  Thee,  let  the  loss  of  this 
battle,  let  the  loss  of  my  kingdom,  of  my  own  life  which 
I  now  return  to  Thee,  atone  for  all  my  guilt !" 

Thus  speaking,  he  rested  the  hilt  of  his  sword  upon 
the  earth,  and  finding  above  his  heart  a  crevice  in  his 
coat  of  mail,  he  pressed  against  the  sword's  point,  and 
with  all  his  weight,  aided  by  his  heavy  armor,  fell  for 
ward  thereupon !  The  sword  pierced  through  and 
through  his  mighty  heart,  and  he  fell  dead  upon  the 
bodies  of  his  sons,  his  head  resting  in  the  bosom  of 
Prince  Jonathan. 

Such,  your  majesty,  was  the  painful  and  touching  end 
of  the  wonderful  career  of  this  great  king,  valiant  war 
rior,  and  wise  statesman ;  for  he  had  been  all  these,  un 
til  in  a  moment  of  impiety  he  offended  the  Divine  Powers, 
and  brought  upon  himself,  and  his  children,  and  upon 
all  his  house,  the  vengeance  of  his  God !  But  let  his 


THE  REBELLION  OF  TRIXCE  ABSALOM. 

unhappy  end,  let  the  severity  of  his  punishment,  the 
bitterness  of  his  fate  atone  for  all !  Let  his  devotion  to 
the  will  of  his  God,  when  that  will  sentenced  him  to  die, 
and  his  regard  for  the  glory  of  his  country  and  the  honor 
of  his  army,  which  he  refused  to  desert,  confer  upon  his 
memory  everlasting  fame  !  They  serve  to  veil  his  errors 
with  a  sort  of  sublime  virtue ;  and  future  ages,  forget 
ting  them,  will  rank  him  with  its  heroes.  As  their  first 
king,  the  Hebrews  will  honor  his  name  and  reign,  and 
their  bards  will  do  justice  to  the  noble  qualities  of  the 
man,  the  valor  of  the  soldier,  and  the  dignity  of  the 
monarch.  Under  his  rule,  their  land  has  taken  a  rank 
among  the  nations  unknown  to  it  before,  and  won  the 
respect  even  of  its  foes. 

When  news  was  brought  to  Achish,  who  had  returned 
to  his  pavilion  suffering  from  a  wound  which  he  had  re 
ceived  from  the  javelin  of  Abner,  that  the  King  of  the 
Hebrews  was  dead  with  his  three  sons  about  him,  he 
sent  the  chief  captain  of  his  guard,  on  the  morrow,  to 
bring  him  Saul's  head,  his  crown,  sword,  and  royal 
breast-plate,  and  the  heads  and  armor  of  the  three  prin 
ces.  But  when  the  Philistines  came  to  the  side  of 
Mount  Gilboa,  wrhere  Saul  lay,  they  found  that  his  crown 
was  taken  from  his  helmet  by  some  sacrilegious  spoiler, 
leaving  only  a  phylactery  bound  upon  his  brow,  on  which 
were  written  the  words : 

{  Oh  earth,  cover  not  thou  my  blood ! 
Mine  eye  poureth  out  tears  unto  God  ! 
Oh  that  Thou  wouldst  hide  me  in  the  grave, 
That  Thou  wouldst  keep  me  secret  till 
Thy  wrath  be  past." 


416  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

These  phylacteries  are  bands  of  parchment,  on  which 
are  inscribed  words  out  of  their  sacred  books,  either  sen 
tences  from  the  law,  or  verses  of  prayer  and  praise,  and 
are  worn  by  the  pious,  in  obedience  to  a  command  of 
God.  How  surprising  to  find  this  sacred  frontlet  crown 
ing  the  brow  of  the  king,  beneath  his  helmet!  Was  it 
piety,  or  was  it  superstition?  Were  they  either,  or  were 
they  both,  how  painfully  they  express  the  feelings  of  hia 
darkened  soul!  The  first  line  of  adjunction  to  earth, 
was  singularly  fulfilled.  The  Philistine  captain  having 
struck  off  the  head  of  the  dead  monarch,  bore  it,  with 
those  of  his  sons  and  their  armor,  to  Achish,  who  after 
severing  with  his  sword  a  long  gray  lock  of  the  king's 
hair,  and  fastening  the  silvery  trophy  amid  the  plumage 
of  his  royal  helmet,  ordered  the  four  heads  to  be  im 
paled  upon  the  gates  of  the  town  of  Bethshan,  which 
stood  near  the  plain,  and  directed  the  body  of  Saul  and 
his  sons  to  be  fastened  to  the  city  wall  in  sight  of  the 
whole  army  encamped  before  it ! 

Achish  then  sent  swift  messengers  into  the  land  of 
Philistia,  to  publish  the  news  of  the  death  of  Saul,  and 
of  his  great  victory  over  the  Hebrews,  in  all  the  temples 
of  his  kingdom,  and  to  the  people  in  the  remotest  bor 
ders  of  the  land.  He  also  sent  away  Saul's  armor  to 
be  set  up  in  the  temple  of  Ashtaroth,  along  the  walls  of 
which  hang  a  thousand  suits  of  mail,  with  helmet,  sword, 
spear,  and  battle-axe,  taken  from  the  foes  of  the  Philis 
tines,  during  the  last  three  hundred  years ! 

Achish  followed  up  his  victory  by  crossing  the  Jordan, 
and  occupying  all  the  cities  and  towns  east  of  that  river. 
In  fact,  his  victory  gave  him  possession  of  two-thirds  of 
the  kingdom. 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  417 

East  of  the  Jordan  is  a  fortified  town  called  Jabesh- 
gilead,  belonging  to  the  warlike  tribe  of  Manasseh,  and 
distinguished  for  the  bravery  of  its  citizens.  King  Saul 
many  years  before  had  delivered  this  people  from  the 
Amalekites.  When  these  warriors  heard  of  the  indignity 
put  upon  the  bodies  of  the  king  and  the  three  princes. 
two  hundred  of  the  most  valiant  young  men,  grateful  to 
him  for  his  deliverance  when  tire  Amalekites  were  about 
to  put  out  all  their  eyes,  sallied  forth  at  night  from  their 
gates,  and  by  a  forced  march  reached  the  town  of  Beth- 
shan  just  after  midnight.  Without  being  seen  by  the 
guards  of  the  Philistine  camp,  they  removed  the  bodies  of 
the  king  and  of  his  sons  from  the  gate,  and  bearing  them 
on  litters  over  Jordan  and  along  the  hills  to  Jabesh, 
erected  an  altar,  and  solemnly  burned  them  thereon! 
The  citizens  then  gathered  up  the  royal  ashes,  and  the 
bones  of  the  three  princes,  and  buried  them  in  a  tomb 
under  a  sacred  palm,  which  grew  near  the  gate  of  their 
city,  and  the  whole  city  mourned  sincerely  for  the  king 
seven  days. 

Thus,  your  majesty,  closed  the  wonderful  and  interest 
ing  history  of  Saul,  truly  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
men  of  the  age.  His  end  was  strikingly  in  keeping  with 
his  stormy  life;  but  it  is  to  be  hoped  he  atoned  by  his 
death  for  his  errors,  so  far  as  man  can  do  so  to  his  God, 
and  is  at  rest  with  his  sons  with  Samuel  the  Seer,  in  the 
abodes  of  the  blessed. 

Your  faithful 

ARBACES. 

27 


418  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 


LETTER    XIII. 
ARBACES  TO  KING  BELUS. 

BETHLEHEM  nr  JUDEA, 

TOUR  MAJESTY, 

IT  will  afford  you  pleasure  to  know  that  your  kind 
epistle,  dated  at  your  palace  in  Nineveh  four  weeks  since, 
reached  me  three  days  ago.  The  intelligence  of  your 
continued  health  and  the  prosperity  of  your  kingdom  is 
very  gratifying  to  me,  as  well  as  the  reception  of  so  large 
and  interesting  a  letter  written  with  your  majesty's  own 
hand. 

The  portion  thereof  which  relates  to  the  beautiful 
daughter  of  Isrilid,  I  can  not  permit  to  pass  without  al 
lusion  to.  My  silence  respecting  her  is  not  because 
I  have  become  less  interested  in  her,  but  because  she  has 
been  absent  from  the  kingdom  for  several  months,  having 
been  taken  by  her  father  to  Tadmor  in  the  Desert,  the 
queen  of  which,  in  failing  health  and  leaving  no  heir  to 
the  throne,  having  written  him  a  letter  desiring  to  see 
him  in  order  to  confer  upon  his  daughter  as  the  next 
heir,  the  crown  and  sceptre !  She  had  been  gone  three 
months  when  I  returned  here  from  my  imprisonment  in 
Egypt,  and  although  I  have  been  here  nearly  three 
months  the  invalid  guest  of  the  hospitable  soldier  Joab, 
(your  majesty  will  remember  my  first  meeting  witb  him 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      419 

near  Jericho.)  I  have  had  no  tidings  of  her  or  her  father. 
Thus  my  silence  respecting  her,  my  dear  Belus,  is  ac 
counted  for;  and  not  owing  to  indifference  to  one  who  so 
profoundly  interested  me,  and  whom  I  still  regard  as  the 
sinccrcst  friend  I  have  among  her  sex. 

Your  majesty  is  pleased  to  say  that  you  trust,  if  1 
marry  her,  I  shall  not  delay  to  present  my  beautiful  He 
brew  bride  to  your  court.  If,  0  Belus,  I  had  harbored 
sentiments  of  this  nature  for  her,  while  I  believed  her  to 
be  only  the  daughter  of  the  lord  of  Jericho,  I  fear  I  shall 
have  to  dismiss  them  from  my  bosom,  when  I  am  compelled 
to  contemplate  her  as  the  proud  and  powerful  Queen  of 
Tadmor  in  the  Desert.  A  prince,  who  like  your  Arbaces 
has  his  chief  fortune  invested  in  his  armor  and  camp 
equipage,  can  hardly,  if  he  is  becominglv  modest  in  his 
aspirations,  hope  to  find  grace  in  the  eyes  of  a  coroneted 
dame,  who  has  beauty  enough  to  tempt  even  Belus  of 
Assyria  to  lay  his  crown  and  sceptre  at  her  feet ! 

Your  majesty  is  very  kind  to  thank  me  so  graciously 
for  my  long  letters,  which,  you  say,  give  you  so  clear 
and  connected  a  history  of  the  interesting  Hebrew  people, 
that  you  read  them  with  the  greatest  pleasure.  You  de 
sire  me  to  continue  to  send  them  to  you  without  abate 
ment  of  details.  I  will  endeavor  to  obey  you,  and  now 
proceed  to  answer  your  inquiries  in  reference -to  the 
wonderful  Prince  David,  who  at  this  moment  sits  on  the 
throne  of  Saul,  though  not  yet  recognized  by  the  whole 
nation  as  their  king,  Prince  Ishbosheth,  at  the  death  of 
his  father,  having,  by  the  advice  of  Abner,  boldly  pro 
claimed  himself  king  in  his  father's  stead  ! 

Your  majesty  will  remember  that  David,  after  being 
dismissed  from  the  camp  of  Achish  in  order  to  appease 


420  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;  OR, 

the  jealous  rivalry  of  his  lords  and  captains,  retired  into 
Philistia.  He  had  not  reached  its  borders  ere  news  came 
to  him  that  Ziklag,  the  fortified  town  in  the  south  which 
the  King  of  Gath  had  given  him  as  a  residence  for  him 
self  and  his  family  and  the  families  of  his  six  hundred 
warriors,  had  been  taken  by  the  Amalekites  and  burned, 
and  the  women  and  children  carried  away  captives.  By 
forced  marches  he  reached  his  city  on  the  third  day,  and 
found  its  ruins  smoking  and  desolate.  The  Hebrew 
chief,  with  so  small  a  force,  hesitated  before  pursuing  an 
army  of  six  thousand  fierce  robbers  of  the  desert,  all 
mounted  on  fleet  horses  or  fleeter  dromedaries,  men  whose 
life  was  war.  In  this  extremity  his  piety  came  to  the 
aid  of  his  valor.  Abiathar  the  Priest  was  with  him,  and 
he  besought  him,  in  virtue  of  his  sacred  office,  formally 
as  High  Priest  to  consult  the  divine  Oracle  !  The  Ark 
was  at  this  time  at  a  place  called  Baale  of  Judah,  whither 
it  had  been  retaken  after  the  destruction  of  Nob ;  as 
formerly  it  had  been  there  many  years.  But  Abiathar 
wore  the  divining  ephod,  and  held  possession  of  the  Urim 
and  Thummim;  that  is,  retained,  with  the  hereditary 
authority,  the  chief  insignia  of  the  Hebrew  Pontificate; 
for  Saul,  in  transferring  the  sacerdotal  dignity,  after  the 
sacrilegious  massacre  at  Nob,  to  a  priest  called  Zadoc  of 
the  co-lateral  princely  family  of  Eleazer,  could  only  con 
fer  upon  him  an  empty  title;  for  the  priesthood  really 
was  vested  only  in  Abiathar,  representing  the  pontifical 
family  of  Ithamar,  and  the  royal  line  of  the  priesthood 
from  Aaron. 

That  Abiathar  might  "enquire  of  God"  in  due  form, 
David  erected  in  a  few  hours  with  four  ranges  of  sixty 
spears  a  temporary  tabernacle,  enclosing  it  with  curtains; 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      421 

and  also  constructed  an  inner  sanctuary  supported  by* 
javelins,  and  covered  with  Tyrian  tapestry  and  white 
linen.  Into  this  place,  secret  from  all  eyes,  entered  the 
priest,  clad  in  his  stately  robes  of  office  and  wearing  the 
ephod;  and  consulted  the  oracle.  Very  different  was  the 
result  from  the  consultation  of  Saul's  High  Priest,  the 
want  of  success  with  whom  drove  the  wretched  king  to 
the  sorceress  of  Endor.  No  sooner  had  Abiathar  asked 
of  his  God  the  words,  David,  who  stood  reverently  wait 
ing  in  the  outer  tabernacle,  put  into  his  mouth  to  say, 
than  a  glory  filled  the  place  from  the  sudden  splendor 
emitted  by  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  and  the  voice  of 
God  answered  the  inquiry,  "Shall  I  pursue  this  troop? 
Shall  I  overtake  them?"  with  this  audible  response: 

u  Pursue,  for  them  shalt  surely  overtake  them,  and 
recover  all  without  fail !" 

In  this  condescension  of  God,  David  was  not  only 
confirmed  in  his  trust  in  God,  but  was  assured  that  the 
Oracle  and  the  Priesthood,  which  had  failed  the  king, 
was  with  himself.  Having  refreshed  his  men,  he  pur 
sued  his  spoilers,  and  on  the  third  day  came  into  tho 
desert,  but  a  great  wind  had  obliterated  the  trace  of  the 
retiring  army.  At  this  crisis  David  beheld  a  man  lying 
on  the  ground  famished.  He  saw  by  his  features  and 
costume  that  he  was  an  Egyptian.  When  he  had  com 
manded  food  and  water  to  be  given  to  him,  and  great 
care  to  be  taken  of  him,  the  man  was  at  length  able  to 
reply  to  David's  inquiries,  and  to  make  known  the  direc 
tion  taken  by  his  foes,  their  number,  and  all  the  circum 
stances  of  the  attack  upon  Ziklag.  The  man  had  been 
left  behind  to  perish  by  his  companions,  because  he  had 
been  taken  ill ;  and  now  their  cruelty  in  deserting  him 


4:22  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

.was  about  to  be  punished  by  the  very  one  who  had  been 
its  victim.  If  they  had  been  humane  persons,  they 
would  have  escaped  safely  with  their  spoil  to  their  own 
country,  but  one  act  of  inhumanity  caused  their  destruc 
tion. 

Pursuing  them  by  the  route  pointed  out,  David  came 
up  with  them  far  to  the  south,  encamped  in  a  plain, 
feasting  and  making  merry,  wholly  abandoned  to  plea 
sure,  thinking  they  were  safe  beyond  pursuit,  knowing 
Achish  to  be  in  the  far  north  fighting  with  Saul.  Like 
a  clap  of  thunder  heard  in  the  sky  in  a  cloudless  day, 
fell  the  shouts  of  the  six  hundred  Hebrews  upon  their 
ears  !  Ere  they  could  seize  their  arms,  and  put  on  their 
armor,  David  and  his  little  band  were  upon  them  !  The 
battle  lasted  the  whole  day,  for  the  Amalekites  were  a 
great  host ;  but  by  the  time  the  sun  went  down,  not  a 
man  escaped,  save  four  hundred  young  men  that  fled 
from  the  field  on  dromedaries,  and  whom  he  could  not 
pursue.  Every  thing  they  had  taken  was  recovered,  with 
the  wives,  and  daughters,  and  little  ones  of  the  victors. 
Abigail,  David's  beautiful  wife,  Nabal's  widow,  was  re 
stored  to  him,  and  also  a  second  wife  he  had  brought  with 
him  to  Ziklag ;  for,  though  it  is  not  the  custom  of  the 
Hebrews  to  have  more  than  one  wife,  yet  it  is  not  re 
garded  as  an  infringement  of  the  divine  law.  It  is  an 
innovation  where  it  occurs,  and  imitated  from  the  cus 
toms  of  the  kings  and  people  around  them.  Indeed,  a 
Hebrew  informed  me  that  the  greater  number  of  wives, 
horses,  (though  the  Hebrews  are  forbidden  in  the  laws 
of  Moses  to  have  a  multitude  of  horses,)  slaves,  and  ser 
vants,  a  great  man  has,  the  higher  is  his  dignity ;  that 
kings  and  lords  ought  to  marry  many  wives,  in  order  to 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      423 

strengthen  themselves  by  alliances  with  numerous  power 
ful  families.  It  was,  doubtless,  this  policy  which  led 
David  to  take  two  wives,  as  the  other  belongs  to  one  of 
the  most  warlike  and  opulent  families  of  the  land ! 

The  conquerors  returned  to  Ziklag,  and  camped  before 
the  ruinous  walls,  for  there  were  but  few  dwellings  for 
the  families  to  occupy  they  had  recaptured;  and  prepared 
to  rebuild  their  stronghold. 

David  in  the  meanwhile  was  filled  with  anxiety  to 
learn  the  result  of  the  battle  on  the  plains  about  Mount 
Gilboa,  between  Saul  and  the  King  of  the  Philistines. 
On  the  third  day,  as  he  was  standing  on  a  part  of  the 
wall  looking  northward  for  any  tidings,  for  he  knew  that 
a  battle  must  ere  then  have  been  fought,  he  beheld  a 
man  advancing  with  haste,  yet  wearily,  his  clothes  rent, 
and  earth  upon  his  head,  like  one  who  bears  evil  tidings. 
When  he  came  near  David,  he  did  obeisance  before  him, 
as  to  a  king. 

"From  whence  coinest  thou?"  demanded  David 
anxiously,  fearing  the  answer  would  convey  some  ill 
news  to  him. 

"  Out  of  the  camp  of  Israel,  my  lord!  I  am  escaped 
only  with  my  life!" 

"How  went  the  battle?"  demanded  David  quickly. 
"I  pray  thee,  tell  me." 

"  The  Philistine  king  hath  overthrown  King  Saul  and 
his  hosts.  Many  ten  thousands  have  fallen  in  the  fight, 
and  are  dead!  Saul  and  Jonathan  his  son  are  dead 
also." 

"How  knowest  thou  that  Saul  and  Jonathan  his  son 
are  dead?"  asked  David,  doubting,  yet  fearing  the  re 
sponse. 


424  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

And  the  young  man  answered, 

"  As  I  happened,  by  chance,  upon  Mount  Gilboa,  be 
hold  I  saw  Saul  lean  upon  his  spear  as  if  sore  wounded ; 
and  the  chariots  and  horsemen  of  King  Achish  pressed 
hard  upon  him ;  and  looking  about  he  saw  me,  and  called 
unto  me,  and  I  hastened  to  him,  and  answered,  'Here 
am  I,  0  king!' 

"And  he  said  unto  me,  'Who  art  thou?' 

"'An  Amalekite  is  thy  servant,'  I  answered  the  king. 

"  He  then  said,  i  Stand,  I  pray  thee,  upon  me  and  slay 
me :  for  I  would  not  die  by  the  hand  of  these  Philis 
tines!' 

""So  I  stood  upon  King  Saul,  my  lord,  and  slew  him, 
because  I  was  sure  that  he  could  not  live  after  that  ho 
was  fallen :  and  I  took  the  crown  that  was  upon  his  head, 
and  the  bracelet  that  was  on  his  arm,  and  have  brought 
them  hither  unto  my  lord." 

When  David  heard  these  words,  and  beheld  the  crown 
and  the  bracelet,  and  recognized  them  to  be  King  Saul's, 
he  knew  that  Saul  was  dead;  and  when  he  inquired 
more  closely,  he  was  assured  that  his  noble  friend,  the 
brave  and  generous  Prince  Jonathan,  was  also  fallen  in 
the  fight.  In  his  anguish  he  rent  his  clothes,  in  token 
of  his  deep  sorrow,  and  wept  for  his  friend  and  for  his 
king,  the  manner  of  whose  death  greatly  affected  him ; 
and  when  his  followers  heard  the  tidings,  there  was 
manifested  the  greatest  sorrow  in  all  men's  faces. 

"Whence  art  thou,  young  man?"  at  length  sternly  de 
manded  David. 

"  Thy  servant,  my  lord,  is  the  son  of  a  stranger — I 
am  an  Amalekite." 

"  How,  thou  son  of  a  stranger !  wast  thou  not  afraid  to 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      425 

stretch  forth  thine  hand  to  destroy  the  Lord's  anointed? 
By  the  sword  of  Saul !  thou  shalt  die  the  death !  Corno 
hither,"  he  called  to  the  captain  of  his  body-guard; 
"draw  thy  sword  and  hew  this  Amalekite  in  pieces! 
Thy  blood  be  upon  thine  own  head ;  for  thou  hast  testi 
fied  against  thyself,  saying,  'I  have  slain  the  Lord's 
anointed!' " 

Uriah,  the  captain  of  the  guard,  without  hesitation, 
lifted  his  sword,  and  smote  the  sacrilegious  and  boasting 
Amalekite  to  the  earth ;  who,  hoping  to  ingratiate  him 
self  with  David,  whom  he  doubtless  heard  that  rumor 
had  asserted  would  succeed  Saul,  had  invented  the  lie 
for  which  he  was  justly  rewarded  with  death.  This 
young  man,  your  majesty,  was  the  same  who  stood  near 
Saul,  and  whom  Saul  would  not  ask  to  slay  him ;  but 
who,  after  his  death,  and  that  of  Doeg  by  his  own  hand, 
robbed  the  king's  helmet  of  the  "war  crown,"  which  was 
secured  thereon  by  a  band  or  plate  of  gold.  This  Ama 
lekite  was  even  the  son  of  Doeg,  by- an  Amalekite  wife; 
and  had  been  told  by  his  wily  father,  if  the  king  fell,  to 
hasten  with  the  crown  to  David  in  Ziklag,  as  he  was  to 
be  king. 

Little  did  the  unhappy  Amalekite  understand  the  true 
character  of  David.  Instead  of  beholding  his  face 
brighten  with  joy  at  the  news  of  Saul's  death ;  instead 
of  seeing  him  seize  the  golden  crown,  and  vainly  put  it 
upon  his  head;  instead  of  being  rewarded  with  a  purse 
of  gold,  a  rich  robe,  and  given  a  place  of  honor,  lo! 
weeping  took  the  place  of  rejoicing,  in  the  generous  and 
unselfish  David ;  the  crown  lay  untouched  at  his  feet ;  and 
he  was  rewarded  with  an  ignominious  death  for  touching 
with  his  hand  a  consecrated  king.  How  beautiful,  your 


426  THE   TIIRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

« 

majesty,  is  this  character  so  admirably  developed  by 
David,  at  a  moment  which  would  test  all  men,  and  show 
what  was  in  them!  Here  were  no  ambitious  hopes 
awakened,  no  unfit  joy  manifested  at  the  death  of  his 
persecutor  and  enemy !  All  the  wrongs  he  had  suffered 
from  the  man,  were  buried  in  oblivion,  as  he  thought 
upon  the  humiliating  end  of  the  consecrated  king!  The 
mighty  Saul  to  be  slain  by  a  base  Amalekite !  The  noble 
traits  of  Saul  he  recalled,  and  also  his  great  sorrows,  the 
loss  of  Samuel's  friendship,  of  the  favor  of  God,  the  evil 
spirit  possessing  him :  all  these  recollections  rushed  upon 
his  mind,  as  apologies  for  all  his  conduct,  and  he  wept 
bitterly,  that  he  was  no  more!  But  what  pen  can  por 
tray  his  heart's  deep  sorrow  for  the  death  of  Jonathan! 
He  shed  tears  for  Saul,  and  the  grief  passed  away;  but 
he  mourned  long  and  sore  for  Jonathan. 

"What  shall  I  do  with  these,  my  lord?"  asked  the 
ever  richly  attired  Ahithophel,  placing  the  crown  and 
bracelet  of  the  king  -before  him,  as  he  sat  in  his  tent. 

"  Take  away  the  crown !"  said  David,  sorrowfully. 
"  Give  it  to  Abiathar  to  keep.  Alas  !"  he  added,  as  he 
took  the  silver  bracelet  in  his  hand,  in  which  was  framed 
a  band  of  inscribed  parchment ;  "  here  is  the  poor 
king's  phylactery  which,  of  late  years,  he  has  worn  bound 
upon  his  wrist." 

"Yes,"  said  the  cynical  Ahithophel,  with  a  slight 
tone  of  bitter  sarcasm ;  "  the  king,  the  deeper  he  sinned, 
the  broader  made  his  phylacteries,  and  the  ampler  was 
the  blue  ribband  upon  his  fringes.  He  grew,  like  all 
transgressors,  superstitious  in  his  late  years,  and  what 
piety  was  lacking  in  his  life,  he  bound  it  in  sacred  verses 
upon  his  brow  as  frontlets,  and  upon  his  hands  as  brace- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      427 

lets.  Doubtless,  as  he  went  into  battle  with  this,  he  re 
garded  it  as  a  potent  charm  or  amulet,  which  would 
make  him  invulnerable.  Behold  !  It  was  upon  his  left 
hand  That  was  the  king's  sword-hand,  by  virtue  of  his 
being  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  It  was  a  bad  omen." 

"  This  language  is  an  offence  unto  me,  Ahithophel," 
said  David.  "  He  who  regards  my  favor  will  speak  cour 
teously  and  kindly  of  the  fallen  king." 

The  next  day,  David  called  a  solemn  fast  for  the  death 
of  King  Saul,  and  when  the  people  were  assembled  to 
gether,  and  had  paid  due  honors  to  the  king's  memory, 
he  took  his  harp  before  them  and  struck  it  to  the  chords 
of  lamentation  for  Prince  Jonathan  in  the  following 
hymn  : 

"  The  beauty  of  Israel  is  slain  upon  thy  high  places; 

How  are  the  mighty  fallen  ! 

Tell  it  not  in  Gath, 

Publish  it  not  in  the  streets  of  Askelon  ; 
Lest  the  daughters  of  the  Philistines  rejoice, 
Lest  the  daughters  of  the  uncircumcised  triumph  ! 

Ye  mountains  of  Gilboa,  let  there  be  no  dew, 

Neither  let  there  be  rain  upon  you, 

Nor  fields  of  offerings ; 

For  there  the  shield  of  the  mighty  is  vilely  cast  away — 
The  shield  of  Saul,  as  though  he  were  not  anointed  with  oil. 
The  bow  of  Jonathan  turned  not  back  ; 
The  sword  of  Saul  returned  not  empty ! 

How  are  the  mighty  fallen  ! 

The  beauty  and  glory  of  Israel  departed ! 

Saul  and  Jonathan  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their  lives, 
And  in  their  death  they  were  not  divided : 
They  were  swifter  than  eagles  : 
They  were  stronger  than  lions  ' 


428         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

Ye  daughters  of  Israel,  weep  over  Saul, 

Who  clothed  you  with  scarlet  and  many  delights, 

Who  decked  your  apparel  with  ornaments  of  gold ! 

How  are  the  mighty  fallen  in  the  midst  of  the  battle! 

Thou  Jonathan  wert  slain  in  thine  high  places; 

I  am  distressed  for  thee,  0  Jonathan,  my  brother : 

Very  pleasant  hast  thou  been  to  me  ; 

Thy  love  to  me  was  wonderful,  passing  the  love  of  women  I 

How  are  the  mighty  fallen  ! 

And  the  weapons  of  war  perished  ! 

This  last  refrain,  taken  up  by  the  warriors  and  the  wo 
men,  was  heard  like  the  waves  of  the  sea  lifting  up  their 
voices  to  the  wailing  of  the  winds. 

The  days  of  lamentation  for  Saul  and  Jonathan  being 
ended,  David,  although  he  knew  that  it  was  ordained 
that  he  should  be  king  in  Saul's  stead,  would  take  no 
steps  without  humbly  consulting  the  Oracle  of  his  God  ; 
thus  evincing  that  modesty,  prudence,  and  piety  which 
are  marked  features  in  his  noble  nature.  He,  therefore, 
waited  upon  the  High  Priest,  Abiathar,  and  desired  Mm 
to  enquire  of  the  Lord  what  he  should  do,  whether  to  go 
into  the  land  of  Judah  and  to  Hebron,  therein,  where 
Saul  had  dwelt;  or  whither  should  he  go  ? 

The  answer  of  the  Oracle  was,  with  the  usual  brevity 
of  divine  revelations, 

"Go  up  to  Hebron !" 

David,  therefore,  prepared  at  once  to  go  eastward  into 
the  land  of  Israel,  before  the  return  of  the  conqueror  Achish 
should  place  any  barrier  to  his  departure.  He  took  with 
him  all  his  followers  with  their  families  and  his  own,  and 
also  many  servants  of  the  Amalekites  and  Ethiopians, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      420 

which  he  had  captured  in  the  desert  when  he  avenged  the 
burning  of  Ziklag. 

What  were  his  emotions,  when  after  five  days'  slow 
march,  during  which  he  crossed  the  field  where  he  had 
slain  Goliath,  he  came  at  the  head  of  his  long  procession 
in  sight  of  the  battlements  of  Hebron,  from  which,  three 
years  before,  he  had  fled  by  night  from  the  fierce  wrath 
of  King  Saul !  As  he  looked  up  at  the  window  of  the 
palace,  from  whence  Michal,  his  young  wife,  had  let  him 
down  over  the  wall,  he  could  not  but  recall  all  the  scenes, 
so  varied  and  adventurous,  through  which  he  had  passed 
since  that  desolate  night.  Flying  a  fugitive  without 
where  to  lay  his  head,  he  was  now  returning  a  king  with 
the  power  and  authority  of  Saul  himself.  His  six  hun 
dred  followers  were  increased  by  the  thousands  of  the 
men  of  Judah,  who  crowded  along  the  way  he  came  to 
join  him  and  hail  him  as  their  king,  and  when  he  entered 
the  gates  of  the  city  he  had  an  army  of  twelve  thousand 
men,  while  all  the  valley  of  Mamre,  before  Hebron,  was 
thronged  with  multitudes  who  had  gathered  there  to 
behold  and  receive  their  young  king,  and  escort  him  to 
his  throne. 

When  he  reached  the  palace  of  King  Saul,  and  was 
tendered  the  keys  of  the  grand  chamberlain,  pride  and 
power  were  not  the  emotions  he  felt  at  such  a  moment 
of  triumph  over  his  enemy,  but  sadness  !  The  absence 
of  Saul,  of  Jonathan,  of  his  other  dead  sons,  of  Michal, 
left  desolate  vacancies  in  corridor  and  chamber,  throne- 
room  and  festal  hall.  Having  thanked  the  chief  men, 
lords,  and  elders  of  Judah  who  had  escorted  him  thither, 
he  desired  to  be  left  alone,  and  for  a  while  gave  himself 
up  to  the  painful  and  solemn  reminiscences  of  the  past. 


4:30  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

The  next  day  he  gave  audience  to  the  principal  per- 
sons  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  of  which  Hebron  was  the 
chief  city,  who  came  formally  to  ask  him  to  receive  the 
solemn  rite  of  consecration  as  king,  some  of  these  old 
men  having  been  present  when,  a  few  years  before,  he 
had  been  anointed  in  his  father's  house,  at  Bethlehem, 
by  Samuel.  That  that  anointing  was  royal  and  pro 
phetic  of  his  reign  after  Saul's  death,  of  late  all  Israel 
had  understood,  and  this  knowledge  at  length  afforded 
the  people  the  true  key  to  Saul's  jealousy  against  one 
whom  he  feared  and  hated  as  the  man  who  would  sup 
plant  his  family. 

Alas  !  Jonathan,  the  prince  royal,'  was  now  where 
earthly  crowns  were  valueless  !  Only  the  youth  Ishbo- 
sheth  of  all  Saul's  family  remained,  save  his  wife  and 
concubines  and  their  sons.  Thirty  days  after  the  en 
trance  of  David  into  Hebron,  the  citizens  of  which  had 
received  him  with  great  joy,  (for  he  had  been  well 
known  to  them  when  he  dwelt  there  with  Saul,)  he  was 
consecrated  and  crowned  king  of  Judah,  with  ceremo 
nies  more  august  and  imposing  than  ever  had  been  wit 
nessed  in  the  land.  The  High  Priest,  in  full  sacerdo- 
tals,  after  solemnly  anointing  his  head  with  holy  oil  at 
the  foot  of  the  throne  in  the  presence  of  the  seventy, 
the  seven  elders  of  the  city,  the  lords  of  the  towns,  the 
high  captains  and  officers  of  his  army  and  of  the  palace, 
led  him  up  the  steps  of  the  throne,  and  seated  him  thereon. 
Then  receiving  the  state  crown  of  Saul  from  the  hands 
of  two  priests,  he  placed  it  upon  his  head  amid  the  accla 
mations  of  the  people,  and  the  sound  of  trumpets,  cornets, 
dulcimers,  and  all  kinds  of  instruments  of  music  from  a 
choir  placed  in  the  gallery  at  the  west  end  of  the  throne- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      431 

room.  The  one  thousand  brilliant  guards  without,  in 
homage  lowered  their  standard  of  the  "  Lion  of  the  tribe 
of  Judah,"  and  paid  with  depressed  spears  the  martial  sa 
lute  to  their  new-crowned  king,  and,  crossing  their  swords, 
in  one  voice  they  swore  safely  to  guard  his  body  "  by 
watch  and  ward,  by  day  and  by  night,  with  their  hearts 
and  with  their  lives  !"  The  intelligence  that  the  king 
was  crowned  was  communicated  to  the  multitudes  in  the 
streets,  whose  shouts  gave  information  to  the  warders 
upon  the  walls,  who  made  it  known  to  the  thousands 
who  could  not  get  within  the  city,  and  who  filled  the 
valley.  These,  repeating  the  shouts  of  joy,  conveyed  the 
glad  tidings  to  the  hills,  and  the  hills  to  the  populous 
vales  beyond  these,  to  fortress,  tower,  and  city,  still  far 
ther  off;  until  the  tide  of  sound  rolled  like  waves  over 
all  Judah,  died  away  in  the  mountains  of  Carmel  in  the 
south,  of  Ephraim  in  the  west,  and  of  Tabor  in  the  north, 
and  were  echoed  back  by  the  dark  hills  of  Moab  beyond 
Jordan. 

Abner,  Saul's  brave  general,  was  walking  on  the  bat 
tlements  of  the  walled  town  of  the  ancient  fortified  camp 
of  Mahanaim,  east  of  the  river  Jordan,  whither  he  had 
fled,  attended  by  four  hundred  Benjamites,  with  Prince 
Tsbosheth  after  the  death  of  Saul.  All  at  once  he  heard 
shouts  afar  off:  vine-dressers  calling  to  the  keepers  in  the 
towers  of  the  olive-fields,  and  these  to  the  reapers  of 
barley  under  the  Avails,  and  these  again  to  the  sentries 
over  the  city-gate  ;  each  man  sending  on  the  news  which 
had  crossed  Jordan  on  the  wings  of  human  voices  fly- 
ing  through  this  populous  land. 

"What  call  they?"  he  asked  of  a  foot-soldier,  a  man 
of  the  tribe  of  Gad,  who  stood  by. 


432  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Before  the  man  could  reply,  a  warder,  upon  a  turret 
above  the  gate,  catching  clearly  the  words  which  were 
shouted  across  the  valley,  cried  aloud  to  Abner, 

"David  is  crowned!  The  son  of  Jesse  is  King  of 
Judah!  Hosanna  to  the  anointed  of  God  !" 

These  words  caused  Saul's  general  to  start  as  if  he 
were  suddenly  wounded  by  an  arrow,  instead  of  by  .a 
voice.  His  great  brow  grew  black  as  night.  He  com 
manded  the  warden  to  keep  silence,  and  without  delay  has 
tened  to  the  palace  of  the  governor  of  the  city.  As  he 
entered  the  reception  hall,  he  beheld  the  young  Prince  Ish- 
bosheth  seated  there,  attired  with  that  exquisite  taste  which 
characterized  him,  his  flowing  robes  richly  fringed  with 
gold  thread,  his  phylacteries  gorgeously  worked  with  the 
needle  in  floss  of  gold ;  the  blue  silken  bands  of  the 
border,  instead  of  being  plain  ribband  according  to  the 
law,  were  magnificently  embroidered  with  scarlet  pome 
granates  and  vine  leaves  intermingled.  His  tunic  was  of 
Tyrian  purple,  worn  with  a  graceful  air,  and  confined 
at  his  slender  waist  by  a  cincture,  sparkling  with  eme 
ralds.  A  collar  of  pearls  encircled  his  round,  handsome 
neck,  and  his  wrists  were  decorated  with  bracelets,  one 
of  which  enclosed  a  verse  of  Holy  Script,  each  letter 
ornamented  after  the  style  of  the  Phoenicians,  who  love 
to  intertwine  sentences  among  flowers,  intermingled  with 
shells  and  fanciful  scrolls.  His  hands  glittered  with  jewel- 
set  rings,  and  the  royal  seal  ring  of  King  Saul,  his 
father,  was  worn,  as  is  the  custom,  upon  the  thnmb  of  his 
left  hand.  His  dark  hair,  of  which  he  was  very  proud, 
flowed  about  his  shoulders  in  shining  masses ;  and  upon 
his  head  he  wore  a  sort  of  sparkling  tiara.  He  was 
seated  upon  a  richlv  lined  chair,  a  slender  Idumean 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      433 

hunting  dog  crouching  at  his  feet,  one  of  his  decorated, 
sandaled  feet  resting  upon  his  glossy  hide.  Upon  his 
wrist  was  perched  a  beautiful  Arabian  bulbul,  which  he 
was  teaching  to  imitate  a  warlike  air  he  was  whistling 
to  it. 

Altogether  it  was  a  striking  picture.  Near  him  sat 
the  governor's  daughter,  a  mere  child,  but  with  those 
great  radiant  Hebrew  eyes,  at  once  so  full  of  innocence 
and  intelligence.  He  was  amusing  her  with  his  remarks 

O  D 

upon  the  dullness  of  his  plumaged  pupil.  On  his  hand 
some  olive-brown  and  heartless  face,  there  was  visible  no 
trace  of  grief  for  the  fate  of  his  father  and  brothers,  who 
scarcely  two  months  before  had  fallen  at  Mount  Gilboa. 
Not  far  distant  from  him  on  the  other  side  of  the  room 
sat  the  Governor  of  Mahanaim,  reading  out  of  the  book 
of  the  criminal  law,  in  reference  to  a  case  which  he  was 
to  decide  that  day. 

Abner  entered  with  a  quick,  heavy  tread,  like  a  man 
in  earnest,  and  who  has  something  earnest  to  say;  the 
ring  of  his  iron  heel  starting  the  prince,  frightening  the 
bulbul  from  his  wrist,  and  causing  the  dog  to  hide  behind 
his  master. 

"What,  my  lord!"  he  cried,  "art  thou  dallying  there 
when  the  times  call  for  thee  to  buckle  on  thy  sword  and 
do  battle  for  thy  father's  crown?  The  son  of  Jesse  was 
this  day  (for  the  winds  have  quickly  brought  the  evil 
tidings)  crowned  King  of  Judah  in  Hebron!  This  must 
not  stand  !  Sir  governor,  call  the  city  together  !  I  will 
proclaim  the  Prince  Ishbosheth  King  of  all  Israel  before 
the  sun  go  down  !  and  defend  his  right  to  the  crown  of 
his  royal  sire  with  my  good  sword." 

Abner  faithfully  fulfilled  his  purpose.  The  same  hour 
28 


434  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

he  rode  through  all  the  city  at  the  prince's  bridle,  at 
tended  by  a  glittering  array  of  men-at-arms,  and  pre 
ceded  by  a  royal  trumpeter,  who  sounded  the  trumpet 
before  him,  while  Abner  cried, 

"  Bend  the  knee  !  Ishbosheth,  son  of  Saul,  is  this  day 
proclaimed  King  over  Israel !" 

From  Mahanaim  the  prince  and  his  general  rode  to , 
the  cities  of  Gilead,  to  the  towns  of  the  Ashurites,  to 
Jezreel,  to  the  strongholds  of  Ephraim,  and  the  lands  of 
the  sons  of  Simeon,  who  wield  their  swords  with  the  left 
hand,  and  over  all  Israel  east  of  the  Jordan.  These  all 
accepted  and  hailed  the  prince  as  their  king ;  and  when  the 
ambassadors  of  David  came  among  them  a  few  days  af 
terwards  to  give  in  their  allegiance  to  him,  they  im 
prisoned  or  drove  them  from  their  cities,  refusing  allegiance 
to  any  save  to  the  son  of  Saul ;  a  devotion  which  had  its 
origin  many  years  previous,  when  these  people  east  of 
Jordan  being  conquered  by  Ammonites,  and  Moabites,  and 
others,  were  promptly  delivered  from  the  hands  of  their 
enemies  by  the  prowess  of  King  Saul.  They  now  grate 
fully  returned  the  favor  by  adhering  to  his  son. 

Thus  not  three  months  after  Saul's  death,  your 
majesty,  two  kings  were  dividing  his  kingdom  between 
them :  one  chosen  before  of  God ;  the  other,  the  creature 
of  the  ambition  and  noble  devotion  to  his  royal  master's 
memory,  of  Abner  the  valiant  warrior  and  accomplished 
general.  Losing  his  own  rank  and  power  at  Saul's  de 
feat  and  death,  this  ambitious  and  proud  soldier  resolved 
to  secure  their  continuance  by  placing  the  king's  son  on 
the  throne.  Perhaps  he  was  ignorant  of  David's  divine 
claim  to  the  crown,  and  regarded  him  as  a  daring 
usurper,  and  his  natural  enemy.  Without  doubt  this 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      435 

stern  old  veteran,  blunt  and  honest  in  purpose,  despised 
the  effeminate  Prince  Ishbosheth  in  his  heart;  but  he 
knew  that  if  he  could  secure  his  seat  in  the  throne  of  his 
father,  that  he,  himself,  Abner,  would  be,  as  his  adviser, 
the  actual  monarch  !  In  establishing  Ishbosheth  in  his 
fa tlior's  kingdom,  was,  therefore,  virtually  to  enthrone 
himself  ! 

Abner,  therefore,  proceeded  to  raise  an  army  to  main 
tain  the  pretensions  of  the  son  of  Saul  to  the  throne. 
This  personage  was  perfectly  passive  in  his  hands,  will 
ing  to  be  king,  so  that  Abner  would  take  all  the  burden 
and  trouble  necessary  to  make  him  so,  and  leave  him  to 
the  indulgence  of  indolence  and  pleasure.  Though  effemi 
nate,  Ishbosheth  was  not  a  craven.  He  had  inherited  all 
his  father's  courage,  and  he  would  not  have  fled  from  the 
face  of  a  lion ;  but  instead  of  his  father's  passion  for  war, 
he  loved  the  indulgence  of  the  chase,  of  the  festal  hall,  of 
the  scenes  of  pleasure  and  of  luxury.  If  Abner  had  per 
mitted  it,  he  wrould  have  joined  his  father  on  the  fatal 
field  of  Gilboa,  and  died  fighting  by  his  side,  as  fearless 
of  death  as  his  brothers !  But  he  had  no  warlike  ambi 
tion.  Honors  he  would  not  refuse,  but  they  must  be 
purchased  by  the  toil  of  others.  Abner  thoroughly  un 
derstood  the  prince's  character;  and  with  the  personal 
prize  in  view,  personal  to  himself,  he  was  willing  to  do 
all  the  work ! 

When  David  heard  that  Saul's  son  had  been  proclaimed 
King  over  Israel,  he  manifested  no  anger.  His  generous 
temper  at  once  pardoned  an  act  founded  upon  the  pro- 
foundest  impulses  of  our  nature.  The  sole  surviving 
prince,  was  he  not  the  lawful  heir,  in  his  own,  and  in 
the  world's  eye,  of  his  royal  father's  throne?  Were  not 


436  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

his  claims  prior  and  superior  to  those  of  a  stranger? 
What  were  David's,  which  should  acquit  him  of  the 
charge  proclaimed  against  him  from  Beersheba  in  the 
south,  to  Dan  in  the  north,  of  usurping  Saul's  kingdom  ? 
The  secret  call  of  God ;  followed  by  the  secret  anointing 
of  Samuel ;  confirmed  by  the  oracle  at  Ziklag,  through 
the  High  Priest  commanding  him  to  go  and  reign  at 
Hebron !  These  were  evidences  to  him  of  his  right  to 
the  throne ;  but  was  it  evidence  to  Abner,  to  Ishbosheth, 
to  Israel,  to  the  world  ?  How  could  he  prove  to  all  these 
his  undisputed  title  to  the  sceptre  and  crown  of  Saul? 
All  that  remained  for  him  was  to  wait  the  farther  reve 
lations  of  heaven,  that  the  world  might  know  as  well  as 
he  himself,  the  justice  of  his  claim,  founded  upon  the 
gift  to  him  of  the  kingdom  by  Him  who  is  King  of  kings, 
and  governs  the  nations  of  the  earth  by  whom  He  will 
David  therefore  did  not  hasten  to  commence  hostilities 
but  waited  to  see  how  God  would  order  affairs.  Three 
weeks  elapsed  when  word  came  to  him  that  Abner  had 
crossed  the  Jordan,  and  taken  Gibeon,  near  Jerusalem 
He  now  sent  for  Joab,  his  general,  who,  under  such  a 
soldier  and  warrior  as  David  had  at  length  become,  had 
acquired  a  fierce  and  sanguinary  character;  or  more 
truly,  numerous  wars  had  developed  a  temper  naturally 
harsh  and  haughty,  into  a  fierce,  almost  relentless  dis 
position. 

"Thou  hast  heard  the  news,  my  great  captain,"  said 
the  king,  as  the  tall  warrior  entered  his  presence,  his 
thick  tangled  locks,  matted  upon  his  square  forehead, 
and  the  lines  of  passion  and  care,  deeply  cut  in  his  worn 
visage,  (for  though,  yet  a  young  man,  he  looked  already 
like  a  veteran,)  and  the  beard  upon  his  lips,  curved  like 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE   ABSALOM.  437 

two  sabres  across  either  cheek.  "  I  have  come  to  but  half 
of  Saul's  kingdom.  Abner  has  not  only  set  up  Ishbosheth 
against  me  beyond  Jordan,  and  made  him  king  of  all  the 
east,  as  thou  hast  heard,  but  he  has  crossed  the  Jordan, 
and  is  at  this  moment  in  the  heart  of  my  kingdom,  hav 
ing  entered  Gibeon,  but  nine  miles  from  Jerusalem,  two 
days  ago!" 

"Then  by  the  sword  of  Gideon,  0  King  David,"  cried 
Joab  in  a  voice  that  growled  like  a  lion's,  when  he  hears 
the  elephant  trumpeting  afar  off,  "I  will  shorten  him  by 
the  head  ere  two  days  more  are  gone!" 

"Nay,  my  brave  son  of  Zeruiah,"  answered  the  king; 
"we  must  deal  gently  with  them.  They  are  in  the  right, 
had  not  God  set  Saul  aside  for  a  stranger !  They  must 
by  and  by  all  come  under  my  rule.  Let  me  not  do  harm 
to  my  own  subjects.  Go  thou,  Joab,  and  take  with  thee 
seven  hundred  chosen  men,  the  number  he  has  with  him. 
When  thou  comest  near  Gibeon,  send  a  messenger  of 
peace  to  Abner.  Begin  not  any  quarrel  with  him. 
Meet  thou  and  the  son  of  Ner  as  of  old,  like  friends  and 
courteous  brethren  in  arms.  Learn  from  him  his  pur 
poses.  Say  to  him  that  I  have  sworn  I  will  not  harm 
the  seed  of  Saul,  nor  fight  against  him  and  his  people. 
Offer  to  Abner  son  of  Ner,  from  me,  terms  of  honor,  and 
the  command  of  my  armies  east  of  Jordan,  if  he  will 
submit  to  my  sceptre ;  and  Ishbosheth  his  master,  for  his 
brother  Jonathan's  sake  shall  dwell  in  my  palace,  and 
be  to  me  as  a  friend!" 

The  next  morning  the  general  of  King  David  departed, 
and  came  and  encamped  before  Gibeon,  and  sending  in  a 
messenger  of  peace,  Abner  and  twelve  Benjamites,  sons 
of  Simeon  beyond  Jordan,  of  great  stature  and  valor, 


438          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

came  forth  with  him,  his  army  being  drawn  up  in  battle 
array  before  the  gates.  The  meeting  between  these  two 
mighty  men  of  war  was  by  a  fountain  near  the  gate. 
Abner  heard  all  the  words  of  the  stern  Joab,  which 
David  sent  to  him,  and  answered  graciously,  saying  "he 
would  refer  the  matter  to  the  King  of  Israel." 

"Who  is  the  King  of  Israel?"  demanded  Joab,  with 
high  anger  in  his  voice. 

"Ishbosheth,  the  son  of  Saul !"  answered  Abner,  with 
his  usual  stately  courtesy. 

"Now,  as  the  Lord  liveth,"  cried  Joab,  striking  his 
iron  sword-handle  till  it  rung  again,  his  nostrils  dilating 
like  those  of  a  war-charger,  "I  know  no  King  of  Israel, 
but  my  lord  David  of  Hebron !  I  will  do  thee  battle,  son 
of  Ner,  on  this  question — thou  and  I  here  between  our 
armies!" 

"Nay,  Joab,"  answered  Saul's  general,  his  large, 
brown  eyes  kindling  with  the  steely  gleam  of  battle,  "I 
have  here  twelve  men  of  war.  They  are  more  valiant  than 
thine.  If  thou  hast  any  doubt,  choose  ye  twelve  of  your 
most  valiant  young  men,  let  them  meet  on  yonder  grassy 
space,  and  at  a  signal  let  them  play  the  game  of  battle  in 
stead  of  thee  and  me,  and  let  the  conquering  side  decide 
who  shall  be  king,  and  who  are  the  bravest  warriors  !" 

The  fierce  and  confident  Joab  did  not  hesitate  to  stake 
the  kingdom  on  this  issue  of  arms.  When  the  twelve 
adherents  of  Ishbosheth  faced  the  twelve  men  of  Judah, 
the  two  armies  looked  on,  and  awaited  the  signal,  which 
Abner  gave  by  waving  his  sword,  and  crying: 

"  For  Saul  and  his  throne  !" 

"For  God  and  the  king !"  responded  Joab. 

The  twofold  cries  were  taken  up  by  the  opposing  com- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      439 

hatants,  and  the  two  parties,  first  casting  forward  their 
javelins,  rushed  upon  each  other  only  with  swords.  The 
twelve  Benjamites  attempted  by  their  fearful  left-handed 
strokes  to  take  the  men  of  Judah  unawares,  but  these  twelve 
men,  selected  by  Joab,  had  been  trained  in  the  army  of 
David  also  to  fight  with  the  left  hand,  and  parrying  the 
blows  caught  their  adversaries  by  the  beard  and  hair,  and 
run  them  through  the  body,  the  Benjamites  at  the  same 
time  transfixing  each  man  his  antagonist.  Thus  the 
twenty-four  combatants  fell  dead  together,  every  man's 
sword  sheathed  in  his  fellow's  body.  At  this  extraordinary 
result,  as  if  the  men  by  mutual  understanding  had  agreed 
to  die  together,  leaving  the  question  of  valor  and  right 
unsettled,  Abncr  and  Joab,  at  the  same  instant,  moved 
by  one  impulse,  shouted  the  battle-cry  for  their  armies 
to  close  in  conflict.  In  a  few  minutes  the  two  hosts 
were  fiercely  battling  together  before  Gibeon,  and  though 
Abner  fought  with  superhuman  prowess,  the  dogged  valor 
and  stern  purpose  of  Joab  overmastered  him.  He  was 
defeated,  and  all  his  army  put  to  flight,  so  that  he  him 
self  had  to  flee  away  on  foot  towards  the  Jordan.  Joab 
and  his  victorious  soldiers  pursued,  until  Asahel,  a  young 
brother  of  Joab,  and  of  wonderful  fleetness  of  foot,  came 
up  with  Abner,  ambitious  to  take  him  prisoner.  The  old 
warrior  warned  him  not  to  come  near  him,  but  heedless 
of  his  words  he  was  about  to  lay  hands  upon  his  shoul 
der,  when  Abner,  by  a  back-stroke  of  his  broken  javelin, 
slew  him. 

Abner,  leaving  three  hundred  and  sixty  of  his  men 
dead  on  the  field  and  in  the  flight,  reached  Jordan  after 
retreating  all  that  night,  and,  crossing  that  river,  regained 
Mahanaim,  where  Ishbosheth  remained  behind  amusing 


440  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

himself.  The  loss  of  Joab  was  but  nineteen  men  besides 
Asahel,  whose  body  he  conveyed  to  Bethlehem,  his  birth 
place,  and  there  buried.  Then,  returning  to  Hebron,  he 
reported  to  the  king  the  issue  of  the  expedition,  from 
which  David  perceived  that  he  could  only  obtain  the 
kingdom  by  an  intestine  war. 

Thus,  your  majesty,  I  have  brought  the  narrative  of 
these  warlike  events  up  to  the  moment  at  which  I  write ; 
for  it  is  yet  but  fourteen  days  since  the  events  I  have 
last  recorded  transpired,  and  the  return  of  Joab  to  He 
bron.  Three  months  ago,  when  I  reached  here  from 
Egypt,  David  had  but  recently  been  crowned,  and  the 
subsequent  events  rapidly  followed  in  the  order  in  which  I 
have  given  them.  From  Bethlehem,  where  I  am  sojourn 
ing,  I  saw  the  seven  hundred  men  of  Judah,  under  Joab, 
when  they  marched  by,  in  the  valley,  on  their  way  to 
meet  Abner  at  the  pool  of  Gibeon ;  and,  on  their  return, 
bearing  the  body  of  the  light-footed  Asahel.  Joab  and 
his  brother  Abishai  stopped  here  one  day  to  bury  the 
body  in  the  sepulchre  of  his  fathers.  From  him  I 
learned  all  the  particulars  of  the  meeting  with  Abner  as 
I  have  narrated  it ;  and  also  from  King  David,  Joab,  and 
others,  who  were  intimately  connected  with  the  events  I 
have  recorded,  have  I  received  the  chief  details  of  the 
histories  which  have  filled  my  letters  to  your  majesty. 

My  health  is  now  so  much  improved  by  more  than  two 
months'  sojourn  in  this  salubrious  region,  that  I  shall, 
to-morrow,  leave  the  house  of  the  stern,  but  hospitable 
Joab,  and  proceed  to  Hebron,  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  king, 
in  order  to  take  leave  of  him  before  departing  from  his 
kingdom.  Ever  since  my  return  from  Egypt,  his  majesty 
has  shown  towards  me  the  greatest  kindness.  Upon  my 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      441 

arrival  by  the  caravan  from  the  land  of  the  Nile,  and, 
coming  to  Hebron,  I  found  that  Jonathan's  friend  held  tho 
sceptre ;  being  too  ill  to  leave  the  camp  outside  of  the  walls, 
I  sent  to  King  David  a  message  of  congratulation  on 
his  accession  to  the  throne.  What  was  my  surprise, 
the  next  morning,  your  majesty,  to  behold  the  curtain 
of  my  tent  drawn  aside,  and  to  see  the  king  enter !  He  ten 
derly  embraced  me,  and  insisted  that  I  should  be  re 
moved  in  a  palanquin  to  his  palace.  He  was  greatly 
changed  in  three  years.  His  figure  was  large  and  manly, 
and  his  air  and  bearing  was  that  of  a  warlike  chief;  for 
he  had  learned  to  endure  the  hardness  of  a  soldier's  dis 
cipline  in  the  severe  school  of  his  persecutor,  Saul. 
Yet,  with  his  brown  cheek,  his  bearded  chin,  his  martial 
voice,  and  military  aspect,  his  eyes  still  sparkled  with 
the  soft  light  of  the  gentle  shepherd's  spirit,  and  his 
white  forehead  was  expansive  with  the  radiance  of  the 
highest  order  of  intellect.  About  his  fine  mouth  played 
the  light  of  that  divine  inspiration  which  has  revealed 
itself  in  some  of  the  most  beautiful  odes,  hymns,  and 
psalters,  which  human  genius  has  composed.  These  this 
pious  prince  loves  to  sing  at  his  window  at  the  close  of 
day,  when  the  hills  are  just  fading  behind  the  holy  veil 
of  twilight,  or  seated  upon  his  palace  corridor  in  the 
light  of  the  full  moon,  accompanying  his  grand,  rich 
voice  with  his  harp,  producing  the  noblest  harmony. 

I  remained  several  days  a  guest  of  this  most  devout  and 
ingenuous  king,  and  after  he  had  heard  of  me  the  history 
of  all  my  adventures  in  Egypt,  he,  from  time  to  time, 
for  he  often  came  to  my  chamber  and  remained  as  long 
with  me  as  he  could  withdraw  from  his  varied  and  im 
portant  affairs,)  related  to  me  all  the  events  which  tran- 


442  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

spired  in  Judea,  during  my  nearly  three  years'  absence 
at  the  court  and  in  the  prisons  of  Pharaoh. 

When,  at  length,  he  found  that  the  close  confinement 
and  air  of  Hebron  were  uncongenial  and  unfavorable  to 
me.  he  recommended  the  hills  of  Bethlehem,  his  native 
place ;  and  Joab,  who  has  a  house  here,  the  pleasures 
of  which,  however,  he  seldom  enjoys,  being  so  much 
away  on  duty  at  the  court  or  with  the  army,  civilly  and 
very  kindly  offered  me  the  use  of  it.  I  accepted  the 
kindness,  and  by  the  advice  of  my  physician,  came 
hither. 

Though  I  have  occupied  my  time  so  much  in  writing 
to  your  majesty,  almost  my  only  solace,  yet  I  have  grown 
better  daily ;  and  am  now  about  to  pay  a  visit  to  the 
king.  Through  his  attention,  I  have  received,  in  my 
convalescence,  every  luxury.  One  day,  purple  grapes 
from  the  famous  vineyards  of  Eshcol,  in  rich  bunches 
of  a  size  that  would  more  than  fill  a  helmet,  are  sent 
to  me  ;  on  another,  caskets  of  ripe  figs,  both  blue  and 
white,  of  wonderful  excellence,  such  as  no  other  land  pro- 
duceth ;  yesterday,  a  basket  of  delicious  pomegranates 
came  by  a  messenger  from  the  aged  Jesse,  the  father  of 
the  king,  who  had  no  sooner  been  crowned,  than  he 
sent  for  his  venerable  parents  to  return  from  the  court 
of  the  king  of  Moab  to  their  own  home  ;  and  to-day, 
raisins,  apricots,  and  fruits  with  names  unknown  to  me, 
and  of  ravishing  flavor,  with  fragrant  olives  from  the 
Mountain  of  Olives,  not  far  distant,  are  bountifully 
poured  upon  my  table ;  while  the  rich  wines  of  Idumea, 
of  Egypt,  and  Damascus,  tempt  me  to  temperate  indul 
gence,  and  invite  to  strength  and  health. 

This  land  of  Judea  and  of  Benjamin,  of  which  Hebron 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PK1XCE  ABSALOM.     443 

and  Bethlehem  are  the  centres,  is  rich  and  fertile  beyond 
conception;  beautiful  and  bold  in  scenery;  abounding  in 
grains,  fruit,  and  flowers;  noble  forest  trees,  and  foun 
tains;  and  groves,  gardens,  and  thousands  of  pleasant 
and  foliage-shaded  homes;  with  numerous  snow  white 
sepulchres,  gleaming  amid  dark  groves. 

HEBRON,  COURT  OF  KING  DAVID. 

Your  majesty  will  see  by  the  change  in  the  date  of 
my  letter,  that  I  fulfilled  my  intention  to  leave  Bethlehem, 
to  visit  the  king.  I  was  received  by  the  young  monarch 
in  the  kindest  manner.  He  expressed  his  great  joy  at 
my  restoration  to  health,  and  said  that  he  trusted  I 
would  now  make  a  long  visit  at  his  court.  "With  what 
pleasure  did  I  meet  here  on  the  day  of  my  arrival,  Isri- 
lid,  the  stately  gray-haired  lord  of  Jericho!  He  was  ac 
companied  by  his  fair  daughter,  and  they  are  occupying 
the  palace  in  which  Abner  once  dwelt.  They  insisted 
that  I  should  become  their  guest;  and  the  king  reluc 
tantly  gave  me  up ;  but  as  his  palace,  in  this  crisis  of  his 
reign,  is  filled  with  courtiers,  ambassadors  from  the 
various  Hebrew  tribes,  lords  of  cities,  senators  of  the 
Sanhedrim,  and  war  officers,  all  seeking  position  and 
place,  or  offering  services,  or  presenting  letters  of  adhe 
sion  to  his  rule,  and  congratulations  upon  his  accession, 
it  was  far  more  agreeable  for  me  to  be  in  a  private  house : 
1  therefore  accepted  the  offer  of  the  noble  Isrilid,  who 
at  once  took  me  to  his  home  which  is  not  fai  from  the 
palace. 

On  the  way  thither,  he  informed  me  that  when  he 
reached  Damascus  with  his  fair  daughter,  he  was  delayed 
some  weeks  for  the  caravan,  and  arrived  at  Tadmor  in 


444  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

the  Desert,  after  many  delays,  to  learn  that  the  queen 
had  been  dead  four  months,  and  that  her  brother,  a 
young  soldier  of  Parthian  blood,  had  seized  the  crown. 
"I  found  him,"  said  Isrilid,  "maintained  in  his  usurpa 
tion  by  a  body  of  wild  barbaric  soldiers  in  steel  helmets, 
and  armed  with  gigantic  bows,  that  carry  steel-headed 
arrows  five  cubits  long.  It  would  have  been  madness  to 
have  made  known  my  errand.  I  remained  at  Tadmor 
privately  lodged  a  few  weeks,  during  which  time  I  learned 
that  the  new  dynasty  was  hateful  to  the  people,  and 
that  they  would  aid  a  leader  with  an  army,  to  displace 
the  splendid  savage  whose  yoke  pressed  heavily  upon 
them.  I  therefore,  resolved  to  visit  Nineveh,  the  kings 
of  which  I  knew  had  received  for  a  hundred  years  tri- 
annual  tribute  from  the  kings  of  Tadmor;  not  that  I 
hoped  King  Belus  would  overthrow  the  new  dynasty  at 
my  poor  solicitation,  or,  that  so  long  as  the  tribute  was 
regularly  sent  to  him,  he  troubled  himself  as  to  who  wore 
the  crown;  but  I  expected,  my  lord  Arbaces,"  continued 
Isrilid,  "to  find  you  at  the  Assyrian  Court,  long  since 
successfully  returned  from  your  embassy  to  Egypt.  I 
therefore  waited  for  the  next  caravan,  when  a  company 
of  merchants  of  Nineveh  arrived,  from  the  captain  of 
whom  I  learned  that  your  mission  had  failed,  and  you 
had  been  held  a  prisoner  in  Egypt  by  Pharaoh  more  than 
two  years.  As  I  was  informed  from  this  veteran  cap 
tain,  that  he  was  the  maternal  uncle  of  your  armor- 
bearer  Ninus,  I  gave  credence  to  his  story,  and  re 
luctantly  returned  by  the  first  opportunity  to  Damascus, 
when  three  weeks  ago  we  arrived  in  Judea  to  hear  of 
King  Saul's  death,  and  the  wise  and  brave  David,  the 
friend  of  God,  on  the  throne.  Here  I  learned,  0  prince. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      445 

with  joy,  how  you  had  escaped  from  your  Egyptian 
prison,  and  were  in  Bethlehem,  where,  had  you  not  so 
opportunely  come  to  Hebron,  I  proposed  to  visit  you. 
As  I  am  no  longer  lord  of  Jericho,  but  a  private  citizen, 
1  shall  dwell  here  with  my  daughter,  having  taken  the 
palace  of  Abner,  which  Saul,  to  whom  it  belonged,  though 
permitting  Abner  to  occupy  it,  gave  me  three  years  ago 
in  part  security  for  the  talents  of  gold  I  loaned  to  him, 
to  carry  on  the  war  against  the  Philistines,  when  Goliath 
of  Gath  and  his  armies  came  against  him!" 

By  this  time,  your  majesty,  we  had  reached  the  gate 
of  Abner 's  palace,  which  stands  not  far  distant  from  the 
"  Tabernacle  of  Shelter,"  where  the  refugees  who  seek 
this  city  from  the  avenger  of  blood  are  lodged  for  pro 
tection. 

Three  years  had  changed  the  Princess  Adora,  not  in  tak 
ing  away  from  her  beauty  and  grace,  but  developing  and 
finishing  that  which  was  not  fully  matured  in  mind  and 
person.  Heretofore  she  was  the  opening  rose  which  one 
hesitated  whether  yet  to  call  it  a  bud  or  a  flower.  But 
the  full-blown  rose  of  Sharon,  brilliant  with  the  morning 
dews,  was  not  more  beautiful  than  the  fair  daughter  of 

o 

the  house  of  Isrilid,  as  she  now  appeared  when  she  ad 
vanced  to  meet  me  !  She  extended  her  hand,  partly  with 
the  freedom  of  an  old  friend,  partly  with  the  affection 
of  a  sister  for  a  brother,  partly  with  a  gentle  look  of 
sympathy,  (for  she  had  heard  of  my  sufferings  in  Egypt,) 
partly  with  blushing  consciousness  that  though  she  might 
regard  me  as  a  brother,  I  was  not  her  brother  !  These 
conflicting,  embarrassing  emotions  made  her  look  far 
more  lovely  than  my  brightest  recollections  since  our 
last  meeting  had  ever  pictured  her. 


446  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

It  took  the  hours  of  three  moonlight  evenings  spent 
upon  the  terrace-like  roof  of  the  palace,  the  soft  breeze 
from  the  mountains  of  Judah  laden  with  the  mingled 
fragrance  of  fruit  and  flowers  cooling  the  air  the  while, 
to  interchange  our  stories.  It  is  wonderful  how  often 
she  desired  me  to  describe  the  beauty  of  the  Egyptian 
princess  !  At  length,  she  said :  "  I  wonder,  0  prince, 
thou  didst  not  marry  her  !  Thou  hadst  better  have  sat 
on  a  throne  than  been  chained  to  the  floor  of  that  dread 
ful  dungeon  !"  There  was  a  tremor  in  the  tones  of  her 
voice  that  plainly  betrayed  she  did  not  mean  all  she  said. 

"  I  had  no  heart,  fair  Adora,  to  give  her,"  I  answered 
her. 

But  here,  your  majesty,  I  paused,  for  I  dared  not 
venture  on  ground  from  which,  if  circumstances  should 
render  it  necessary,  I  might  be  unable  to  retire  with  be 
coming  self-possession  and  dignity.  From  what  I  leave 
unsaid,  your  majesty  will  be  so  kind  as  not  to  imagine 
there  are  passages  of  the  interview  I  desire  not  to  con 
fess.  What  the  future  may  reveal,  I  cannot  say.  What 
ever  it  does  develope  shall  not  be  withholden  from  thee, 
0  Belus  ! 

I  am  now  a  daily  guest  at  the  dinner  table  of  the  king. 
One  after  another  the  Hebrew  tribes  on  this  side  Jordan 
are  giving  in  their  adhesion  to  his  royal  sceptre ;  for,  to 
the  people  at  large  the  title  of  David,  the  son  of  Jesse, 
to  reign  over  them  is  of  the  same  value  (in  that  it  is  from 
the  same  high  Source  of  all  authority  and  power,  their 
God  himself)  of  that  by  which  Saul,  the  son  of  Kish, 
became  their  king  !  Both  equally  were  called  of  God, 
and  both  were  anointed  by  Samuel !  But  for  the  ambi 
tion  of  Abner,  still  the  firm  friend  of  the  dead  king,  his 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      447 

master,  who  claims  an  hereditary  right  to  the  throne  on 
the  part  of  the  king's  son,  the  whole  nation,  both  sides 
of  the  now  dividing  river,  would  ere  this  have  submitted 
cheerfully  to  his  sceptre.  So  long  as  Abner  lives  and 
stands  by  this  young  and  indolent  prince,  Ishbosheth,  so 
long  will  there  exist  in  this  nation  of  one  blood  a  state 
of  internecine  war,  but  aggressive  only  on  the  part  of 
the  adherents  to  Ishbosheth. 

As  I  was  about  to  close  this  letter,  your  majesty,  King 
David  sent  for  me.  Upon  presenting  myself  at  the  pa 
lace,  he  said : — 

"  My  dear  prince,  I  trust  our  long  and  frequent  inter 
course  has  made  us  friends.  I  will,  therefore,  frankly 
commune  with  you.  You  inform  me  that  it  is  your  pur 
pose  in  a  few  days  to  return  to  Nineveh,  contrary  to  the 
advice  of  your  own  physicians  and  those  of  my  court, 
who  say  the  heat  and  exposure  of  the  oriental  desert 
will  bring  back  your  disease,  and  perhaps  forbid  a  second 
restoration  to  health.  Before  you  incur  so  great  a  risk, 
I  pray  you  reflect  whether  you  cannot  be  of  more  service 
to  your  monarch  and  to  his  interests  by  remaining  here, 
and  represent  Assyria  in  the  character  of  resident  am 
bassador  at  my  court.  It  is  true  my  kingdom  is  yet  in 
its  first  estate,  and  but  a  fragment  of  the  empire  God 
will  put  into  my  hand.  But  it  is  my  purpose  to  enlarge 
its  borders,  and  raise  it  to  a  rank  among  the  powers  of 
the  earth  that  the  nations  shall  no  more  say  with  deri 
sion,  '  Your  God,  whom  you  call  the  Lord  of  the  earth, 
rules  over  but  a  little  kingdom  without  seaports,  com 
merce  by  caravan  or  ship,  without  treaties,  and  without 
the  friendship  of  a  single  king  of  the  earth  !  Remain 
here,  0  Arbaces,  and  let  me  address  a  letter  to  your 


448  THE   THRONE    OF    D^VID;    OK, 


king,  your  account  of  whom  has  led  me  to  hold  him  in 
great  esteem,  asking  him  to  consent  to  an  interchange 
of  commerce  and  of  royal  courtesies.  Such  a  message 
I  shall  direct  to  Pharaoh  of  Egypt,  to  the  King  of  Sheba, 
to  the  Dukes  of  Idumea,  to  the  Prince  of  Tadmor,  to  the 
noble  young  King  Hiram  of  Tyre,  and  even  to  the  Lord 
of  Askelon.  War  is  not  prosperity,  but  peace  is  power  ! 
I  shall  cultivate  amity  and  friendship  with  all  nations. 
With  an  army  of  four  hundred  thousand  men,  which  I 
can  bring  into  the  field  when  I  have  consolidated  my 
power,  I  shall  be  able  to  command  peace  in  my  borders. 
The  friendship  and  alliance  of  the  powerful  King  of 
Nineveh  will  enable  me  to  secure  more  readily  that  of 
all  the  others.  If  you  consent,  0  Arbaces,  to  remain 
at  iny  court,  I  will  despatch  a  courier  with  a  suitable 
escort  to  your  king  to  be  the  bearer  of  my  letter,  and 
of  any  message  you  may  desire  to  forward  to  him." 

When  King  David  had  ended  this  candid  revelation 
of  the  policy  which  should  govern  him  in  his  reign,  I 
thanked  his  majesty  for  his  confidence  and  royal  friend 
ship,  and  desired  three  days  to  make  up  my  mind. 

In  coming  to  the  determination  which  I  have  done,  I 
was  materially  influenced,  0  Belus,  by  two  words  spoken 
by  the  Princess  Adora.  These  words  were  in  reply  to  a 
question  which  after  an  hour's  interview  I  addressed  to 
her  ;  a  question  founded  upon  good  evidence  which  I  be 
lieved  I  had  of  her  partiality  for  me.  I  said, 

"  And  will  you,  0  Adora,  share  the  residue  of  my  life 
with  me,  if  I  consent  to  remain,  by  my  royal  master's 
permission,  resident  ambassador  at  the  court  of  your 
king?" 

Without  hesitation,  but  with  trembling  joy,  the  glorv 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      449 

of  love  resplendent  in  her  radiant  gaze,  and  its  sacred 
cadences  trembling  musically  on  her  tongue,  she  an 
swered, 

"I  will." 

Therefore,  0  Belus,  do  you  receive  this  letter  by  the 
caravan  instead  of  Arbaces  in  person.  Let  not  my  lord 
prince  be  offended.  If  your  majesty  will  turn  a  favorable 
ear  to  the  request  of  King  David  for  an  alliance  and 
representation,  and  will  confer  upon  your  Arbaces  the 
position  of  ambassador,  the  king  will  send  to  you  in  re 
turn,  one  of  his  lords,  Ahithophel,  a  person  of  great 
abilities,  scholarship,  wit,  and  knowledge  of  men,  a 
nobleman  of  wonderful  sagacity  of  intellect  and  penetra 
tion,  and  with  that  high  personal  character  which  will 
command  for  him  your  majesty's  esteem. 

Be  assured,  0  my  liege  lord  and  prince,  Belus,  that  I 
do  not  in  the  least  withdraw  my  allegiance  from  you, 
my  lawful  king,  even  in  taking  the  oath  of  homage  (as  I 
shall  do  if  your  majesty  accredits  me  to  this  court)  to 
the  fair  Queen  of  Tadmor,  whose  only  empire  I  fear 
be  that  which  she  will  wield  over  the  loyal  heart  of 
Your  loving  and  liegiant  subject 

ARBACES. 

29 


450  THE   THRONE   OF    DAVID;    OK, 


[There  is  an  interval  of  seven  years  between  the  date  of  the 
preceding  letter  and  the  present,  during  which,  civil  war  raged 
between  Abner,  the  general  for  Ishbosheth,  Saul's  son,  and 
King  David ;  but  without  any  notable  battles  being  fought. 
David,  however,  steadily  gained  power  and  strength,  while 
Saul's  party  became  weaker  and  weaker,  daily  diminishing  io 
numbers  and  influence.] 


LETTER    XIV. 

AKBACES,  AMBASSADOR  AT  THE  COURT  OF  JERUSALEM, 

To  BELUS,  KING  OF  ASSYRIA. 

COURT  OP  DAVID,  JERUSALEM. 

YOUR  MAJESTY: 

I  ONCE  more  take  up  my  pen  to  resume,  after  nearly 
seven  years'  intermission,  my  narrative  of  the  events  of 
the  reign  of  King  David.  My  long  silence  in  the  inter 
val  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  nothing  has  transpired 
worthy  of  transmitting  to  your  majesty  outside  of  the 
regular  routine  of  my  official,  diplomatic  correspondence, 
in  which  I  have  diligently  kept  you  advised  of  what 
concerns  you  as  the  ally  of  this  realm  to  know.  I  re 
joice  at  your  majesty's  approval  of  my  whole  course  at 
this  court,  during  the  seven  years  I  have  resided  here ; 
,ind  especially  do  I  feel  complimented  by  your  approval 
of  the  position  I  took  in  promising  your  aid,  when,  last 
year,  Pharaoh  King  of  Egypt  insolently  demanded  tri- 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRIXCE    ABSALOM.  451 

bute  of  King  David,  on  the  ground  that  the  Hebrews 
had  despoiled  Egypt  when,  five  hundred  years  ago,  they 
departed  from  it ;  a  charge  so  absurd  at  this  time,  that 
King  David  said,  "  This  Egyptian  seeks  this  cause  of 
quarrel  in  order  to  go  to  war  with  me,  and  subdue  my 
kingdom  to  his  sceptre  with  his  countless  hosts." 

But  when  I  pledged  to  the  Hebrew  monarch  the  as 
sistance  of  an  Assyrian  army,  your  majesty,  if  Egypt 
invaded  his  borders,  and  sent  to  Pharaoh  word  that  a 
war  with  King  David  involved  a  war  with  the  powerful 
King  Belus,  the  haughty  Egyptian  withdrew  his  inso 
lent  demand.  I  was  sure  your  majesty  would  approve 
of  the  responsibility  I  assumed  at  such  a  crisis.  Since 
then,  King  David  has  withholden  nothing  from  me,  but 
consults  me  in  all  his  affairs. 

Your  majesty  has  kindly  offered  to  march  an  army 
against  Tadmor,  and  drive  the  Parthian  king  from  its 
throne,  of  which  he  is  now  seven  years  an  usurper,  and 
hold  it  for  the  Princess  Adora.  I  thank  your  majesty, 
and  so  does  Adora,  my  wife  ;  but  since  the  death  of  the 
ambitious  Isrilid,  her  father,  two  years  ago,  she  has  dis 
missed  from  her  mind  all  aspirations  after  a  throne 
which  can  only  be  won  by  a  conflict  of  armies,  and  main 
tained  at  great  expense  of  treasure  and  of  blood.  Nor, 
your  majesty,  have  I  any  desire  to  become  king,  by  vir 
tue  of  Adora's  title,  of  the  realm  of  Tadmor.  I  have 
been  so  long  in  this  pleasant  land,  I  feel  at  home  therein ; 
and  having  been  nearly  seven  years  wedded  to  one  of  its 
loveliest  daughters,  I  have  all  the  happiness  my  heart, 
or  my  ambition,  requires.  We  dwell  in  a  charming 
palace  on  the  side  of  the  Mountain  of  Olives,  facin^  Je- 

1  O 

rusalem,  with  terraces  and  gardens,  groves  and  fountains. 


452  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

and  all  the  luxuries  which  the  vast  wealth  that  Adora 
inherited  from  her  father,  can  command.  I  am  respected 
by  the  lords  and  elders  of  the  Sanhedrim,  and  have  the 
confidence  of  the  king.  No,  your  majesty,  I  am  per 
fectly  happy,  and  my  wife  confesses  that  she  is.  Let 
the  magnificent  Talarac  reign  in  barbaric  splendor.  1 
sleep  sounder  than  he,  for  crowns  are  full  of  troubled 
thoughts,  which  no  opiates  can  put  to  rest.  The  life  of 
David  is  full  of  care  !  My  little  kingdom  of  seven  acres, 
on  the  side  of  Olivet,  with  its  little  snow-white  palace 
for  me  and  Adora,  its  king  and  queen ;  our  realm  of 
groves  full  of  bulbuls,  and  other  singing  birds  ;  our  pas 
tures  enameled  with  a  thousand  flowers ;  our  orchard 
abounding  in  fig,  pomegranate,  apricot,  apple,  tamarind, 
and  date  trees,  in  rich  profusion ;  our  vineyard  purple 
and  gold  with  clusters  of  grapes;  our  olive  garden,  called 
of  old  Gethsemane,  shining  with  its  fragrant  fruit,  its 
olive  press  half  hidden  among  the  ancient  olive  trees  ; 
all  these  constitute  our  kingdom.  We  also  have  servant 
men  and  servant  women,  among  them,  two  poor  Gibcon- 
ites  who  served  Ahimelech  at  Nob,  and  escaped  from  the 
slaughter  of  their  people  by  Doeg ;  a  few  lambs ;  a  dark 
eyed  gazelle  that  feeds  out  of  Adora's  hand ;  a  tame 
coney,  white  as  snow,  and  a  few  kine,  besides  half  a  dozen 
beautiful  Assyrian  horses.  Before  our  door,  across  the  val 
ley,  tower  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  the  battlements  of  the 
fortress  of  David,  late  that  of  the  Jebusites,  and  the  war 
like  outline  of  the  whole  of  the  city  where,  of  old,  Melcln- 
sedek,  the  descendant  of  the  gods,  reigned  cotemporary 
with  Abraham.  In  a  clear  morning,  from  the  roof  of 
my  villa,  I  can  also  see  the  mountains  of  Ephraim  in  the 
west,  the  city  of  Kirjath-jearim  at  their  base,  where  the 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  453 

Ark  and  the  Tabernacle  have  been  since  the  death  of 
the  priests  at  Nob  ;  the  turrets  of  Ramah,  farther  north, 
the  city  of  the  Seer  and  now  his  sepulchre ;  and,  south 
wardly,  the  misty  and  azure  heights  of  Bethlehem. 
What  more  do  I  need,  0  Belus,  to  render  me  happy  ? 
What  lacketh  in  the  dimensions  of  our  kingdom,  we  find 
in  the  boundless  empire  of  one  another's  affection.  The 
realm  over  which  love  reigns  hath  no  boundary  but  the 
earth  around  and  the  heavens  above. 

Therefore,  0,  Bclus,  suffer  Talarac  to  reign  in  Tadmor, 
and  Arbaces  and  Adora  to  reign  on  the  side  of  the 
Mount  of  Olives  over  their  gardens,  birds,  gazelle,  and 
flowers. 

It  is  true,  your  majesty,  I  respond  in  reply  to  your  in 
quiry,  I  have  solemnly  consecrated  myself  to  the  worship 
of  the  one  God  of  the  Hebrews ;  and  by  adoption,  ere  I 
married  Adora,  I  became  a  proselyte  to  their  grand  and 
mysterious  faith.  But  in  departing,  0  Belus,  from  the 
worship  of  Assarac  and  Ninus,  and  the  gods  of  Assyria,  do 
not  suppose  I  have  withdrawn  my  allegiance  or  devotion 
from  its  lord.  My  heart  still  beats  as  loyal  to  thee  as 
ever,  my  beloved  master  and  king;  and  I  trust  you  will 
yet  bear  testimony  that  I  can  be  faithful  to  the  God  of 
David,  without  failing  in  loyalty  to  Belus.  I  should 
have  been  unworthy  of  Adora,  if  I  could  have  refused  to 
acknowledge  her  God,  and  take  her  faith  to  my  heart. 

During  the  seven  years  past,  your  majesty,  Abner, 
with  wonderful  talent  and  influence  over  men,  has  held 
the  fragmentary  kingdom  of  Ishbosheth  together.  For 
the  first  two  years  this  indolent  and  luxurious  prince 
maintained  a  royal  court  at  Mahanaim,  and  kept  up  a 
sort  of  kingly  estate;  but  Abner  could  not  prevail  upon 


454  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

him  to  lead  his  army  against  King  David.  He  declined 
to  take  the  field,  so  that  he  could  indulge,  unmolested  by 
David,  in  inglorious  ease  in  his  palace,  surrounded  by 
sycophants  and  flatterers.  All  the  while,  the  most  war 
like  of  his  adherents  were  calling  upon  him  to  march 
against  Hebron,  and  take  from  him  the  throne  of  his 
father  Saul.  Disappointed  by  his  indifference,  many  of 
the  best  warriors  in  his  camp  went  over  to  Joab,  and 
tendered  him  their  allegiance  and  swords  for  King 
David.  At  length  the  patience  of  the  lion-like  Abner 
was  wearied  out;  and  after  the  prince  had  nominally 
reigned  two  and  a  half  years,  the  ambitious  son  of  Ner 
ceased  longer  to  recognize  him  as  king,  or  refer  any  mat 
ters  to  him,  but  took  the  reins  of  government  in  his  own 
bold  and  sagacious  hand.  He  raised  a  large  army  to  in 
vade  Judah,  when  Ishbosheth,  led  on  by  rival  warriors, 
jealous  of  the  power  of  Abner,  forbade  his  march.  Ab 
ner,  in  anger,  refused  to  obey  his  king;  but  his  captains 
and  men-at-arms  becoming  dissatisfied  at  this  dividing 
of  power,  dissension  arose,  and  the  whole  host  dispersed, 
save  four  thousand  men.  With  these  Abner  laid  waste 
parts  of  the  country  which  had  submitted  to  David,  but 
Joab  marching  against  him,  caused  him  again  to  retire 
beyond  the  river.  In  this  desultory  and  resultless  man 
ner  nearly  five  more  years  elapsed,  when  affairs  were 
suddenly  brought  to  a  crisis  between  the  inefficient  Prince 
Ishbosheth  and  his  discontented  and  long-enduring  cap 
tain. 

One  morning  Abner  presented  himself  in  the  chamber 
of  the  prince,  who,  broken  in  constitution  by  luxurious 
indulgence,  and  bloated  with  banqueting  and  wine,  was 
reclining  on  his  embroidered  couch,  listening  to  the  voice 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      455 

of  a  beautiful  Ishmaelite  singing-girl,  sent  him  by  the 
King  of  Ammon. 

"What  now,  Abner!"  he  said,  looking  displeased  at 
the  abrupt  entrance  of  the  veteran  commander.  "Thou 
treadest  as  heavily  as  an  elephant,  and  comest  before  us 
helmed  and  mailed  as  if  thou  wert  entering  thy  battle 
tent !  More  ceremony,  even  if  thou  art  my  father's  uncle, 
old  man,  when  thou  comest  into  a  king's  presence !  What 
now?" 

"  The  King  of  Ammon's  ambassador  waits  for  thy  re 
ply,"  answered  Abner,  repressing  his  ire.  "Wilt  thou 
accept  his  offer  of  alliance,  and  the  eighty  thousand  men 
he  offers  us  to  go  up  against  David,  and  stablish  thee  on 
the  throne  of  thy  father  at  Hebron  ?" 

"Nay;  I  am  content  to  reign  this  side  Jordan,"  re 
plied  the  prince.  "It  is  too  much  trouble  to  go  to  war! 
Let  the  son  of  Jesse  be  content  with  his  side !  I  will  not 
quarrel  with  him  for  what  he  has !  Go  Abner,  thou  hast 
caused  me  to  lose  the  sweetest  trill,  when  at  the  most 
critical  note,  I  e'er  heard  from  human  voice!  Go  on, 
girl!  Sing  me  that  song  again!  These  thick-headed 
war-men  have  no  ear  but  for  a  trumpet,  or  the  neighing 
of  a  charger. ' ' 

The  gray-haired,  grand  old  warrior  who  had  fought  a 
hundred  battles  with  Saul,  felt  this  insolence  of  his  son, 
but  compressed  his  lips  and  left  the  room  in  silence.  As  he 
passed  along  the  hall  he  beheld  a  stately,  beautiful  woman 
about  forty-five  years  of  age,  who  seemed  awaiting  his 
return.  She  fixed  upon  the  sorrowful  and  angry  visage 
of  the  commander  her  large,  inquiring  eyes.  Abner 
answered  the  look  by  shaking  his  head  sadly,  and  then 
said, 


456  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;  OR, 

"Rizpa,  wilt  thou  give  me  brief  audience?'* 

"  Come  in,  0  Abner ;  I  will,  if  it  will  please  thee,  talk 
over  with  thee  this  matter  of  the  King  of  Ammon's  al 
liance,  thou  hast  so  greatly  at  heart !  What  hast  thou 
to  ask  of  me?"  she  inquired  as  he  took  a  seat  by  the 
window  of  her  room,  while  she  sat  upon  a  carved  gilt 
chair  before  it. 

He  then  eloquently  urged  upon  her  the  duty  of  ex 
erting  her  influence  with  the  prince,  which,  he  said,  he 
felt  was  very  great,  to  induce  him  to  accept  the  aid  of 
Ammon.  The  woman  promised  to  do  so,  and  he  was  about 
to  leave  her  apartment  when  Ishbosheth  entered.  His 
face  was  flushed  with  wine  and  jealousy  !  Fixing  his  in 
flamed  eyes  on  his  general,  he  cried, 

"  How,  son  of  Ner  !  What  doest  thou  here  ?  Dares t 
thou  insult  the  memory  of  Saul,  my  father,  by  seeking 
to  make  his  widowed  concubine  thine  ?  Thou  wilt  next 
affect  the  kingdom  !  Hast  thou  of  late  grown  so  great 
that  thou  hast  thought  thou  couldst  even  look  to  the 
king's  wives?" 

These  words,  embracing  so  grave  a  charge  against  him, 
roused  the  soldier  to  great  wrath. 

"Am  I  but  the  keeper  of  thy  dogs,  son  of  Saul,"  he 
cried,  "that  thou  chargest  me  with  this  base  thing? — me 
who  have  maintained  thee  on  thy  throne,  and  showed 
kindness  to  all  thy  father's  house,  and  made  myself  strong 
for  thee  and  thy  crown,  and  have  not  delivered  thee,  as 
I  have  had  the  power  to  do,  into  the  hands  of  David? 
What !  am  I  a  dog,  that  thou  chargest  me  with  fault 
concerning  this  woman  ?  Now  is  my  cup  full !  And  may 
God,  who  once  swore  to  David  to  translate  the  kingdom 
from  the  House  of  Saul,  and  to  set  up  the  throne  of  David 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      457 

over  all  Israel,  and  over  Judah,  do  unto  me  as  he  hath 
done  unto  Saul  and  his  three  sons,  if  I  do  not  henceforth 
give  my  help  to  carry  out  this  oath  of  God  towards 
David,  and  presently  bring  all  Israel  away  from  thee 
unto  him  !  So  help  me  the  God  of  my  fathers,  hut  that 
I  do  it!" 

The  terrible  anger  and  fatal  oath  of  Abner  caused  the 
prince's  face  to  change,  from  the  crimson  hue  of  wine,  to 
the  whiteness  of  parchment.  He  essayed  to  reply,  but 
the  words  clove  to  the  roof  of  his  mouth,  parched  by 
fear.  Abncr  without  another  word  strode  from  the  cham 
ber,  leaving  his  mantle  in  the  grasp  of  Rizpa,  who  with 
tearful  eyes  would  have  detained  him  to  pacify  his  fierce 
wrath,  and  get  him  to  change  his  mind  against  the  House 
of  Saul,  which  he  had  for  seven  years  so  faithfully  served 
with  his  sword  and  his  voice. 

The  best  of  kings  can  not  be  sure  of  the  permanent 
devotion  of  their  courtiers.  Ishbosheth  deserved  to  lose 
this  one,  the  defender  and  sole  supporter  of  his  preten 
sions  to  the  crown  of  his  father. 

The  first  intelligence  King  David  had  of  the  matter 
was  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  courier  from  Abner  be 
fore  the  gate  of  Hebron,  for  Abner,  having  made  the 
breach  irreparable  between  him  and  Ishbosheth,  was  too 
prudent  a  diplomatist  to  delay  the  execution  of  his  threat 
for  the  prince  with  Abner's  envious  enemies  might  com 
bine  for  his  immediate  destruction.  Instead,  however, 
of  going  himself  to  David,  he  kept  at  home  in  his  own 
palace,  well  armed  and  watchful,  while  he  sent  to  him  a 
messenger.  When  David  heard  that  a  courier,  with  the 
banner  of  Saul's  House  on  his  spear,  asked  an  audience, 
he  sent  for  him  to  appear  before  him. 


458  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

"  Whence  comest  thou  ?"  lie  demanded  of  the  fleet 
footed  Gadite  runner. 

"  From  beyond  Jordan,  and  from  Abner  the  head  of 
the  armies  of  Israel,"  answered  the  man ;  and  with  the 
word  he  delivered  a  sealed  and  tied  roll  into  the  hands 
of  King  David's  cup-bearer,  who  bore  it  to  his  royal 
master  upon  his  silver  tray. 

The  king,  quickly  breaking  the  seal  and  cutting  the 
silken  thread,  unrolled  the  parchment,  and  read  as  fol 
lows  : 

To   DAVID,  KING  OP  JUDAH   AT  HEBRON  ;   ABNER,  SON  OF  NER,  COUN 
SELOR  AND  GENERAL  OF  THE  HOUSE  OF  SAUL  :  Greeting. 

"  That  God  hath  sworn  to  thee  to  take  the  kingdom 
from  Saul,  and  set  up  the  throne  of  David  therein,  thy 
servant  knoweth,  and  so  doth  all  Israel.  Wherefore 
should  man  fight  against  God  ?  Whose  is  the  land  of 
Israel  but  thine,  the  anointed  of  God's?  Let  thy  ser 
vant,  therefore,  make  a  league  with  thee,  0  king,  and 
behold  my  hand  shall  be  with  thee  henceforward,  and 
thy  servant  will  bring  over  all  Israel  to  thee,  so  thou 
shalt  reign  over  Israel  and  Judah,  as  God  hath  appointed 
thee.  Make  a  league,  0  king,  and  secure  to  thy  servant 
and  his,  and  to  the  House  of  Saul,  and  to  all  Israel, 
safety  and  honor,  and  what  thy  servant  hath  covenanted 
to  do  he  will  do." 

The  King  of  Judah  was  greatly  rejoiced  at  this  un 
looked-for  turn  of  affairs,  as  your  majesty  may  well  per 
ceive.  He  at  once  replied,  as  follows : — 

"  DAVID,  king  by  the  grace  and  order  of  God,  send- 
eth  these  to  Abner,  son  of  Ner : 

"  The  king  granteth  the  league.      Come  thou  and  all 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      459 

Israel  over  to  me,  and  bring  me  the  keys  of  the  rebel 
city  of  Mahanaim  in  token  of  its  submission.  The  son 
of  Saul  may  depart  whither  he  listeth,  or  come  and 
dwell  in  Hebron  with  safety  and  honor,  and  Saul's  wives 
and  their  sons  with  him  ;  also  Mephiboshcth,  the  little 
lame  son  of  Jonathan,  whom  for  his  sake  I  will  adopt, 
and  he  shall  be  even  as  a  prince  in  my  house.  But  hear, 
0  Abner,  thou  nor  thine  nor  none  of  these  shall  see  my 
face,  except  thou  first  bring  Michal,  Saul's  daughter, 
whom  he  gave  me  to  wife  ten  years  ago,  when  thou  com 
cst.  Without  her  come  not  before  my  face." 

In  addition  to  this  reply  to  Abner,  King  David  sent 
a  courier  with  a  letter  to  that  prince,  demanding  his 
wife,  whom  Saul  in  the  first  year  of  her  marriage  h.id 
divorced  from  David  and  given  to  Phalti  of  Laish,  the 
just  and  virtuous  man  I  have  before  named.  This 
Phalti,  upon  receiving  her,  had  committed  her  to  the 
charge  of  his  mother,  as  if  she  were  his  sister ;  for  being 
a  friend  of  David,  he  resolved  at  some  future  day  to  re 
store  her  to  him  in  purity  and  honor. 

The  letter  to  Ishboshcth,  whom  David  well  knew,  hav 
ing  long  dwelt  in  the  palace  of  Saul  with  him,  as  well 
as  married  his  sister,  ran  thus : — 

KIXG    DAVID    TO    PRINCE    ISHBOSIIETH. 

"  I  write  with  my  own  hand  this  letter  to  thee,  de 
manding  my  wife,  thy  sister,  Michal.  Deliver  her  to 
me  without  delay,  for  I  hear  she  is  in  thine  hand." 

When  Abner  received  David,  the  King  of  Judah's, 
reply,  he  went  to  Ishboshcth  with  fair  words,  for  the 
prince,  finding  he  had  not  departed  from  the  city  to  Da 
vid,  following  the  sensible  advice  of  Rizpa,  made  friends 


460  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

with  him,  by  acknowledging  to  him  the  injustice  of  his 
angry  suspicions;  for  if  Abner  remained  his  enemy,  on 
whom  could  he  lean?  Taking  advantage  of  this  truce, 
Abner  waited  upon  him,  after  he  knew  David's  messen 
ger  had  delivered  his  letter  to  him,  without  appearing  to 
know  that  such  a  courier  or  letter  had  come  to  Maha- 
naim.  As  he  expected,  he  found  Ishbosheth  in  a  tornado 
of  passion,  cursing  David  by  Urini  and  Thummim,  by 
Altar  and  Cherubim,  and  making  oath  that  he  would  slay 
his  sister  with  his  own  hand  rather  than  give  her  back 
to  the  son  of  Jesse ! 

Abner  waited  until  this  storm  had  subsided,  and  then 
urged  him  to  obey  the  king  by  persuasions  backed  by 
representations  of  David's  power,  and  his  certain  ven 
geance  if  this,  his  first  and  most  beloved  wife,  should  be 
refused  him.  The  irresolute  prince  yielded,  and  sent 
to  the  house  of  Phalti  the  friend  of  God,  as  he  was 
called,  and  brought  Michal  from  his  mother's  care  to 
Abner.  The  parting  was  a  sorrowful  one.  The  mo 
ther  of  Phalti  loved  her  as  a  daughter,  for  the  amiable 
and  faithful  princess  had  been  as  such  to  her ;  while 
Phalti  loved  her  both  as  a  sister  and  as  a  daughter,  and 
while  he  felt  the  justice  of  David's  claim,  he  could  not 
but  go  with  her  a  long  ways,  mourning  with  deep  grief 
her  departure  from  his  roof. 

Ten  years  had  ripened  the  beauty  of  the  daughter  of 
Saul,  now  in  her  twenty-sixth  year,  who  after  so  long 
an  absence,  was  about  to  be  reunited  to  him.  That 
David  should  still  retain  the  warmth  of  his  youthful  love, 
after  such  scenes  of  war,  and  persecution  of  sorrow  and 
trials,  lamenting  her  as  dead,  reflects  upon  him  the 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      461 

highest  honor,  and  is  singularly  creditable  to  the  tender 
ness  and  devotion  of  his  heart ! 

Did  her  attachment,  perhaps  your  majesty  will  inquire, 
survive  that  long  period  of  separation  ?  I  can  assure 
your  majesty  that  its  fires  were  as  bright  as  those  which 
warmed  the  bosom  of  the  king.  I  was  by  chance  present 
at  their  meeting,  when  Abner,  leaving  his  body-guard 
of  twenty  men  at  the  gate,  brought  her  into  the  presence 
of  the  king.  With  what  a  bound  of  joy  and  love,  after  a 
moment's  doubt  as  his  strange  aspect  met  her  gaze,  at 
the  sound  of  his  voice,  did  she  fly  to  his  heart  and  rest 
upon  his  shoulder  !  But  there  is  a  sacredness  in  love  which 
can  convert  mere  curiosity  into  a  sort  of  sacrilege,  and  I 
will  not  describe  the  beautiful  and  touching  emotion, 
each  exhibited  at  their  reunion ;  for  both  were  still  young, 
King  David  being  but  thirty,  and  his  recovered  wife  five 
years  younger  !  From  that  moment  I  loved  him  even 
more  than  before  I  had  esteemed  him. 

But  how  shall  I  describe  to  your  majesty  the  inter 
view  of  David  with  his  ancient  friend,  Abner,  who  had 
restored  to  him  the  wife  of  his  youth  !  For  four  hours 
they  sat  together  and  talked  over  all  the  past.  Espe 
cially  did  David  inquire  about  Saul  and  Jonathan's  death, 
and  hung  on  each  particular;  and  tears  came  into  his 
eyes,  even  seven  years  after  he  fell  on  the  hard-foughten 
field  of  Gilboa.  David,  a  brave  and  skillful  soldier  him 
self,  respected  Abner.  He  knew  the  honest  purpose  of 
his  heart,  and  the  singleness  of  his  character.  Ho 
honored  him  for  his  devotion  to  the  House  of  Saul,  for  it 
became  him  as  a  faithful  servant  of  that  unhappy  monarch, 
to  stand  up  for  his  house  and  the  glory  of  his  name,  and 
the  roval  inheritance  of  his  son.  David  loved  him  not 


462  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

less,  but  rather  honored  him  the  more  for  his  generous 
devotion  to  Islbosheth  and  his  fortunes ;  both  so  unworthy 
of  him. 

When  King  David  had  done  discoursing  with  the 
valiant  warrior  and  statesman  of  Israel,  he  sent  for  his 
score  men-at-arms,  and  had  them  well  cared  for  and 
feasted ;  and  placed  Abner  at  his  own  table,  in  the  pre 
sence  of  his  lords,  governors,  captains,  and  chief  officers, 
giving  him  the  place  of  honor  next  to  his  right  hand,  and 
sending  him  a  portion  five  times  greater  than  to  all 
others.  I  was  present,  your  majesty,  at  this  feast.  I 
was  struck  with  the  modesty  and  good  sense  of  the 
simple-hearted  and  majestic  old  warrior.  lie  spoke  out 
his  sentiments  bluntly  and  to  the  point.  He  seemed  to 
fear  no  man ;  yet  there  was  a  native,  manly  courtesy 
about  him  which  was  very  captivating.  He  was  full 
sixty  years  of  age,  if  not  older,  with  a  grand  heroic  head, 
massive  and  stern,  his  eyes  dark  hazel  and  piercing,  yet 
capable  of  a  woman's  tenderness  of  expression;  his 
heavily  burdened  and  moustached  lip  and  chin  had  a 
lion-like  aspect;  while  his  voice  had  the  deep  energy  of 
the  rumbling  base  notes  of  the  king  of  beasts.  If  he  had 
been  Saul's  son  instead  of  being  his  uncle,  and  so  been 
heir  to  the  throne,  King  David  would  have  sat,  for  the 
last  seven  years,  more  in  his  war-saddle  than  on  his 
throne,  slept  oftener  in  his  pavilion  on  the  field  than 
upon  his  couch  in  the  palace. 

The  following  day  Abner  took  leave  of  King  David, 
saying,  "I  will  now  depart  and  go  over  Jordan  and  gather 
all  Israel,  unto  my  lord  the  king,  that  the  lords  and 
elders  thereof  may  make  with  thce  a  league  of  submission, 
that  thou  mayest  reign  over  them  and  over  all  the  king 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  4<J3 

dom  of  Saul,  according  to  thy  heart's  desire,  and  the  oath 
of  God  to  thee." 

King  David  dismissed  Abner  at  his  palace  gate  with 
an  embrace  of  friendship.  It  was  remarked  by  the  offi 
cers  of  the  court,  that  he  had  never  shown  such  affection 
ate  regard  for  Joab  his  own  general.  The  observation 
of  the  courtiers  was  correct.  Abner  was  by  nature  a 
noble  character,  not  only  brave,  but  generous,  manly, 
gentle,  and  honest,  possessing  qualities  of  character 
which  even  his  enemies  could  respect.  Of  him  once  said 
the  King  of  Moab,  where  David's  parents  found  shelter, 
and  who  fought  against  Abner  and  Ishbosheth  for 
David's  sake,  "I  love  the  son  of  Ner  above  all  men,  and 
though  he  be  my  enemy,  I  would  give  the  revenue  of 
half  my  kingdom  to  have  him  my  friend  and  commander 
of  my  armies." 

In  Joab  there  was  nothing  to  love,  no  trait  of  charac 
ter  to  command  admiration  or  win  affection.  He  had 
no  heart  but  his  sword,  no  sympathies,  no  loving-kind 
nesses,  no  charities.  He  was  only  a  man-of-war,  iron 
within,  and  iron  without.  A  thorough  soldier  he  was, 
an  invaluable  commander  of  the  armies  of  King  David; 
but  there  was  no  soul  to  be  found  underneath  his  corslet 
and  brazen  cuirass.  Abner's  smile  would  have  won  the 
most  timid  child  to  his  knee;  the  frown  of  Joab  would 
have  sent  it  in  terror  to  its  mother's  side.  Therefore 
David  embraced  Abner  his  foe,  but  never  embraced  Joab 
his  friend !  and  this  was  observed  and  commented  upon. 
Whether  the  busy  tongue  of  malice  poisoned  Joab's  ear 
thereupon,  I  know  not,  leading  him  to  the  step  which 
followed ;  but  Abner  had  not  been  an  hour  departed  with 
a  safe  conduct  from  the  king,  on  his  return  to  the  other 


464          THE  THRONE  OF  DAviD;  OK,, 

side  Jordan,  ^hen  Joab  and  his  younger  brother  Abishai 
entered  the  gate  from  a  successful  onslaught  against  an 
invading  band  of  Idumeans  from  the  south.  He  had  no 
sooner  come  within  the  city,  than  some  of  the  busy  cour 
tiers  told  him  that  Abner  of  Ner,  viceroy  beyond  Jordan, 
had  been  three  days  with  the  king,  feasting,  and  holding 
audience,  and  had  made  terms  of  peace  with  him ;  and 
but  an  hour  had  left!  Upon  this  Joab,  his  sword  yet 
red  with  slaughter,  and  his  armor  stained  with  the  conflict, 
stalked  into  the  palace,  and  stood  in  the  throne-room 
before  the  king.  His  raven  black  hair  hung  in  tangled 
masses  over  his  shoulders,  his  armor  was  indented  with 
Idumean  battle-axe  strokes,  and  his  helm  cloven  with  a 
blow  from  the  sword  of  a  lord  of  the  desert,  whom  he 
slew.  He  looked  like  war  in  all  its  sanguinary  terrors 
embodied;  while  his  red-shotten  eyes,  and  thick  voice, 
husky  writh  shrieking  his  war  cries,  betrayed  how  great 
his  passion  raged. 

"Abner  the  son  of  Ner,"  he  shouted  to  the  king,  me 
nacingly,  and  defiantly,  "hath  been  here,  and  thou  hast 
sent  him  away  in  peace." 

"He  came  in  peace,"  answered  David  firmly. 

"Nay,"  cried  Joab;  "thou  knowest  this  son  of  Ner 
came  to  deceive  thee,  and  to  be  spy  upon  thee,  and  to 
know  thy  going  out  and  thy  coming  in,  and  all  that  thou 
doest.  Thou  hast  not  done  well  to  let  him  go  from  thee 
in  peace.  Thou  shouldst  have  put  him  to  death,  and 
then  the  crown  of  all  Israel  would  have  been  thine!" 

Before  King  David  could  reply  to  his  irate  general, 
Joab  went  out  of  the  presence.  Without  making  known 
to  any  man  his  purpose,  he  sought  out  his  chief  captain 
and  bade  him  send  two  swift  runners  after  Abner  in  the 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      465 

name  of  the  king,  to  bring  him  back.  The  messengers 
overtook  Abner  at  the  well  of  Sirah,  where  ten  years 
before  David  had  sat  down  and  drank  water  from  the 
pitcher  of  the  virgin  Abigail,  the  betrothed  of  Nabal,  and 
now  the  king's  wife,  and  ate  figs  from  the  little  basket 
of  Bathsheba,  now  since  become  the  wife  of  his  great 
captain  Uriah.  Abner,  suspecting  no  treachery,  returned 
with  the  messengers.  As  he  re-entered  the  gate  of  the 
city  of  Hebron,  Joab  met  him  and  said, 

"I  knew  not  thou  wert  the  king's  guest,  0  Abner,  or 
I  would  have  hastened  from  the  wars  to  show  thee  hos 
pitality  as  becometh  thy  rank,  and  the  errand  on  which 
thou  earnest  ?  Wilt  thou  remain  and  dine  with  me  to 
morrow  ?  We  are  old  soldiers  in  one  sense,  and  we  will 
talk  our  battles  o'er." 

With  this  talk,  Joab,  who  was  closely  followed  by  his 
brother  Abishai,  had  got  him  to  a  corner  in  the  wall  be 
hind  the  gate,  when,  suddenly  turning  upon  him,  he  drew 
his  dagger,  and  struck  him  between  the  corslet  and  the 
belt  to  the  heart  at  a  single  blow,  crying, 

"That,  for  my  brother  Asahel,  whom  thou  didst  slay 
between  Gibeon  and  Jordan,  with  a  back  stroke  of  thy 
spear-head,  when  he  followed  thee  to  overtake  thee  as 
thou  fleddest !" 

The  brave  warrior,  without  a  word,  so  suddenly  was 
he  smitten  to  the  death,  fell  over  upon  his  face  and  died, 
a  victim  to  the  basest  treachery,  and  a  sacrifice  also, 
perhaps,  to  the  jealous  fears  of  the  assassin ;  for  Joab 
suspected  that  if  David  pardoned  and  took  the  noble 
Abner  into  favor,  he  would,  ere  long,  from  his  superior 
age  and  experience  in  war  and  military  rule,  take  the 
highest  place  in  the  army  of  David,  and  displace  himself 


466  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

Without  doubt,  the  last  was  the  chief  and  ruling  motive 
for  his  putting  Abner  to  death  ;  for  Asahel  was  fairly 
Blain  in  pursuit  of  a  retreating  foe,  and  his  death  could 
not  call  for  such  a  deed  of  vengeance. 

When  King  David  heard  the  tidings,  he  was  greatly 
overcome,  and,  at  length,  said,  in  a  voice  trembling  with 
indignation  and  mortification, 

"As  the  Lord  liveth,  let  all  men  hear  and  know  that 
I,  and  my  house,  and  my  kingdom  are  guiltless  of  the 
blood  of  Abner.  I  sent  him  forth  in  peace.  Let  his 
blood  be  upon  Joab,  the  sole  author  of  this  great  crime, 
and  on  all  his  father's  house.  Let  his  sons  be  lepers, 
and  lame,  and  die  by  their  own  hand,  or  perish  with 
hunger,  no  man  giving  them,  because  he  hath  dealt  trea 
cherously,  and  slain  him  whom  the  king  let  go  in  peace 
and  with  an  oath  of  safety." 

There  were  not  wanting  malicious  men,  your  majesty, 
who  denounced  the  king  as  having  openly  sent  him  away 
in  order  secretly  to  destroy  him.  The  king,  therefore, 
in  every  manner,  sought  to  clear  himself  of  all  such  sus 
picion.  He  publicly  proclaimed  his  innocence.  He  de 
nounced,  and  charged  Joab  with  the  crime.  He  invested 
himself  with  the  habiliments  of  grief,  and  put  on  sackcloth, 
and  clad  his  whole  court  in  mourning.  He  buried 
Abner  from  his  palace  with  the  most  solemn  and  magni 
ficent  funeral  obsequies.  He  caused  all  the  governors 
of  cities,  lords  of  towns,  the  Sanhedrim,  or  Senate  of 
Seventy,  the  municipal  judges,  the  chief  men,  and  civil 
ians,  and  half  his  army,  in  battle  order,  to  precede  and 
follow  the  body,  which  was  placed  in  a  richly  decorated 
coffin  upon  a  war-chariot,  drawn  by  four  white  horses ; 
the  bier,  covered  with  an  embroidered  purple  pall,  and 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      467 

blazing  with  precious  stones,  while  his  sword  and  helmet 
reposed  upon  it.  The  king,  on  foot,  followed  the  bier, 
and  the  thousands  of  Judah  prolonged  the  weeping  pro 
cession,  which,  issuing  from  the  northern  gate,  crossed 
the  valley  and  came  to  the  place  of  sepulchres  before 
Machpelah,  where  the  lords  of  Hebron  lay  buried.  Here, 
with  great  pomp  and  solemnity,  the  old  warrior,  thus 
basely  murdered  by  the  hand  of  envy  and  hatred,  was 
entombed.  Joab  was  compelled,  by  the  king's  stern 
command,  to  be  one  of  the  chief  pall-bearers,  and  assist 
in  laying  his  body  in  the  tomb.  Then  the  monarch, 
with  feeling  and  eloquence,  pronounced  a  noble  eulogiuin 
upon  the  virtues  of  the  deceased,  boldly  reviewing  the 
manner  of  his  death,  and  feelingly  denouncing  the  act 
and  the  perpetrator  thereof. 

The  people  could  no  longer  doubt.  The  innocence  of 
the  king  was  apparent  to  all.  Twenty  thousand  warriors 
now  marched  in  battle  order  around  the  tomb  where  the 
dead  soldier  lay,  chanting  a  funeral  war-song  in  a  mighty 
voice,  and  accompanying  the  refrain  by  striking  their 
swords  against  their  bucklers,  till  the  echoes  from  the 
hills  were  like  sounds  of  armies  fighting  together  upon 
the  plain. 

King  David  then,  standing  by  the  tomb,  with  great 
dignity  recited  the  following  hymn  for  the  dead,  seventy 
white-robed  priests  answering  him  in  alternate  verses, 
the  whole  sounding  grandly  and  sublime,  accompanied,  as 
it  was  at  intervals,  by  fourscore  players  on  martial  in 
struments  of  music,  making  the  noblest  and  most  solemn 
harmony : 

LOUD,  tliou  hast  been  our  dwelling  place 
In  all  generations. 


468  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

Before  the  mountains  were  brought  forth, 

Or  ever  thou  hadst  formed  the  earth  and  the  world, 

Even  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  thou  art  God. 

Thou  turnest  man  to  destruction  ; 

And  sayest,  lie  turn,  ye  children  of  men. 

For  a  thousand  years  in  thy  sight  are  but  as  yesterday  when  it 

is  past, 

And  as  a  watch  in  the  night. 
Thou  earnest  them  away  as  with  a  flood ; 
They  are  as  a  sleep. 

In  the  morning  they  are  like  grass  which  groweth  up. 
In  the  morning  it  flourisheth,  and  groweth  up; 
In  the  evening  it  is  cut  down,  and  withereth. 
For  we  are  consumed  by  thine  anger, 
And  by  thy  wrath  are  we  troubled. 
Thou  hast  set  our  iniquities  before  thee, 
Our  secret  sins  in  the  light  of  thy  countenance. 
For  all  our  days  are  passed  away  in  thy  wrath : 
We  spend  our  years  as  a  tale  that  is  told. 
The  days  of  our  years  are  threescore  years  and  ten ; 
And  if  by  reason  of  strength  they  be  fourscore  years, 
Yet  is  their  strength  labor  and  sorrow ; 
For  it  is  soon  cut  off,  and  we  fly  away. 
Who  knoweth  the  power  of  thine  anger  ? 
Even  according  to  thy  fear,  so  is  thy  wrath. 
So  teach  us  to  number  our  days, 
That  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom. 

"A  prince,  and  a  great  man  is  fallen  in  Israel  this 
day,"  said  the  king  to  me  as  we  were  retiring  to  Hebron. 
"I  am  yet  weak,  and  not  firmly  seated  on  the  throne 
for  which  I  was  anointed,  and  this  fierce  Joab  and  his 
brothers  and  men-at-arms,  these  powerful  sons  of  Zeruiah, 
are  too  strong  with  the  army  for  me  to  punish  them  for 
the  death  of  Abner.  I  am  compelled  to  forbear !  But 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.     469 

as  the  Lord  liveth,  the  doer  of  this  wickedness  shall  be 
rewarded  according  to  his  deed!" 

O 

When  the  news  reached  the  Prince  Ishhosheth  that 
Abner  had  been  slain  in  Hebron,  and  as  rumor  had  it, 
by  the  command  of  King  David,  his  heart  failed,  and  he 
shut  himself  up  in  his  palace,  fearing  each  moment  ho 
should  be  assassinated,  and  trembling  at  every  footstep. 
Two  men,  animated  by  the  same  selfish  motives  which 
governed  the  Amalekite  who  brought  Saul's  crown  to 
David,  hastened  to  find  the  prince,  in  order  to  put  him 
to  death,  and  be  the  first  bearers  of  the  tidings,  that  he 
"was  no  more,"  to  King  David.  They  found  his  palace 
unguarded  in  the  confusion,  and  reached  his  chamber 
where  he  lay  on  his  couch,  too  bloated  and  heavy  to  flee 
far.  His  sword  was  in  his  hand,  and  his  looks  showed 
that  he  knew  their  errand,  and  that  he  would  not  die 
without  defence.  The  conflict  was  brief.  He  fought  his 
assassins  with  courage  worthy  of  his  father  on  the  field 
of  Gilboa ;  but  he  fell  back  at  length,  pierced  to  the  heart 
by  their  swords,  and  died  upon  his  couch.  The  two 
desperate  men,  Rechab  and  Baanah,  who  were  brothers, 
then  beheaded  him,  and  hastened  with  the  head  concealed 
under  a  cloak  from  the  palace,  and  that  night  crossed 
the  Jordan.  Keeping  the  valley  southwardly,  they 
.  traveled  till  they  came  at  noon  the  next  day  to  Hebron. 
Being,  at  their  desire,  led  into  the  presence  of  the  king, 
"Rechab  said,  displaying  his  ghastly  prize: 

"Behold,  0  king,  the  head  of  Ishbosheth  the  son  of 
Saul,  thine  enemy,  who  sought  thy  life.  Lo !  the  Lord 
hath  avenged  my  lord  the  king  this  day,  of  Saul  and  his 
house!" 

Then  the  king  rose  up,  his  noble  and  beautiful  coun- 


470          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

tenance  lighted  up  with  a  sort  of  divine  anger,  and 
sternly  said  to  them, 

"As  the  Lord  liveth,  who  hath  redeemed  my  life  from 
all  adversity,  when  one  told  me,  'Saul  is  dead,'  think 
ing  to  have  brought  good  tidings,  I  hewed  him  in  pieces 
in  Ziklag,  who  thought  I  would  have  given  him  a  reward 
for  his  tidings !  How  much  more  when  wicked  men  have 
slain  an  unsuspecting  person,  more  righteous  than  them 
selves,  in  his  own  house  upon  his  bed?  Shall  I  not, 
therefore,  now  require  his  blood  of  your  hand,  and  cut  you 
off  from  the  earth  you  dishonor  by  your  deed  ?  As  the 
Lord  liveth,  ye  shall  both  die  the  death!" 

At  a  sign  from  the  king,  his  guards  drew  their  swords 
and  put  the  two  young  men  to  death  b'efore  him ;  and, 
severing  their  hands  and  feet,  hanged  them  up  on  the 
public  gibbet  by  the  pool  of  the  city. 

The  king,  having  thus  expressed  his  abhorrence  of  their 
deed,  ordered  the  head  of  the  unfortunate  prince  to  be 
placed  in  an  urn  of  porphyry,  and  conveyed  by  a  company 
of  Levites  and  priests  to  the  sepulchre  of  Abner  near  the 
cave  of  Machpelah,  where  it  was  reverently  placed  by 
them  in  a  niche  at  the  head  of  the  warrior's  coffin. 
Thus,  at  last,  together  the  ambitious  soldier  and  his 
faithless  prince  sleep,  where  the  viol  of  pleasure  and  the 
trumpet  of  war  are  alike  unheard  and  unheeded. 

King  David,  who  had  previously  commended  the  in 
habitants  of  Jabesh  Gilead  for  the  honor  paid  to  the 
bodies  of  Saul  and  Jonathan,  with  like  reverence  for  the 
last  of  Saul's  sons,  sent  messengers  to  have  the  headless 
body  of  Ishbosheth  placed  in  a  stone  coffin  at  Mahanaim, 
intending  by  and  by  to  have  all  the  bodies  removed  to 
the  ancestral  sepulchre  at  Bethel. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM       471 

Thus  this  excellent  young  king,  under  every  circum 
stance  in  which  he  has  been  placed,  has  exhibited  the 
noblest  evidences  of  being  a  great  and  good  man,  who 
not  only  cheerfully  pardons  his  enemies,  and  remembers 
no  more  the  wrongs  they  have  done  him,  when  death  at 
length  casts  over  them  the  sacred  shield  of  the  tomb,  but 
honors  their  ashes  by  funereal  pageants,  and  mourns  rather 
than  rejoices  at  their  sad  end. 

Nor  did  the  generous  regard  for  King  Saul's  memory, 
and  for  his  house,  terminate  with  the  tomb.  David  re 
membered  his  oath  to  Jonathan  that  he  would  not  only 
do  good  to  his  father's  family,  when  he  should  become 
king,  but  that  he  himself  and  his  seed  after  him  should 
be  held  dear  to  him.  Your  majesty  will  recollect  this 
oath  which  Jonathan  caused  David  to  take  when  they 
parted  under  the  walls  of  Hebron,  at  the  time  David  fled 
from  Saul;  for  the  prince,  knowing  that  it  was  the  custom 
of  new  dynasties  to  put  to  death  all  the  members  of  the 
former  royal  family,  feared  that  David,  perhaps,  in  the 
flush  of  power,  and  influenced  by  evil  counselors,  might 
put  to  death  all  his  father's  house.  In  remembrance  of 
his  oath,  King  David  sent  a  messenger  to  Mahanaim,  to 
inquire  if  any  were  left  of  the  family  of  Saul  that  "  he 
might  show  them  a  kindness  for  Jonathan's  sake,"  for 
he  had  married  the  beautiful  daughter  of  the  lord  of 
Bethel,  and  David  had  heard  that  a  son  was  born  to 
him ;  and  to  know  if  this  child  were  alive  and  where  it 
dwelt,  he  now  sent  away  his  servants. 

It  is  a  beautiful  trait  in  his  character,  that,  amid  the 
absorbing  duties  which  now  pressed  upon  him  at  this 
crisis,  he  should  have  given  a  moment's  thought  to  this 


472  THE    THllONE    OF    DAVID;    OE, 

little  child.  But  he  is  a  man  who  religiously  performs 
all  duties,  equally  the  least  with  the  greatest. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  men  of  Israel  from  beyond 
Jordan,  and 'of  all  the  remoter  tribes,  hastened  to  send  in 
their  submission  to  him  at  Hebron,  bringing  him  gifts  of 
gold,  silver,  jewels,  fine  linen,  corn,  wine,  and  oil,  so  that 
David  was  soon  thereby  made  very  rich.  On  a  fixed 
day,  surrounded  by  his  guards,  his  lords,  and  captains, 
the  national  senate  and  civic  elders  being  present,  with 
the  High  Priest  and  a  train  of  Levites,  David,  seated 
upon  the  throne  of  Saul,  received  the  ambassadors  from 
all  the  tribes,  provinces,  cities,  towns,  and  citadels,  and 
accepted  their  allegiance,  and  took  their  oaths  of  sub 
mission  and  loyalty  in  the  presence  of  the  High  Priest 
Abiathar.  In  his  turn  the  king  entered  into  a  league 
with  them,  to  forget  and  pardon  the  past,  to  rule  them 
wisely  and  justly,  to  lead  them  to  battle,  to  defend  their 
borders  against  their  foes,  and  in  all  things  regard  their 
peace  and  prosperity.  This  solemn  league  and  covenant, 
being  duly  inscribed  on  parchments,  and  signed  by  the 
twelve  ambassadors,  one  from  each  tribe,  and  also  by 
the  king,  was  sealed  with  the  royal  seal.  The  roll  was 
then  committed  to  the  custody  of  the  High  Priest,  to  be 
preserved  in  the  tabernacle,  with  other  public  and  sacred 
parchments.  No  sooner  did  Abiathar  take  hold  of  them 
than  the  sardonyx  stone  upon  the  ephod  on  his  shoulder 
emitted  rays  of  resplendent  glory,  showing  God  was 
present  and  approved. 

Then,  in  the  presence  of  the  august  and  venerable  as 
sembly  of  the  elders  of  Israel,  the  High  Priest,  attired  in 
his  splendid  pontifical  robes,  wearing  the  dazzling  mitre, 
and  the  ephod,  and  bearing  in  his  hand  a  golden  cup, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      473 

advanced  towards  the  throne,  upon  the  lowest  step  of 
which  the  King  of  Judah  stood.  Kneeling  before  the 
vicegerent  of  the  Lord,  David  was  solemnly  anointed 
by  Him  with  holy  oil  poured  from  the  golden  cup  upon 
his  head,  the  rich  ointment  flowing  over  his  locks  and 
down  his  beard,  and  even  dripping  upon  his  robes,  and 
filling  all  the  throne-room  with  its  rich  perfume.  Thus 
consecrated  the  third  time  king,  he  was  crowned  by  the 
High  Priest,  robed  with  a  purple  royal  vesture  by  two 
attendant  priests,  while  a  most  venerable  senator,  the 
chief  of  the  Sanhedrim,  presented  to  him  his  sceptre. 
The  highest  lord  of  the  Levites  placed  in  his  hand  a 
scroll  of  the  laws,  and  another  bound  to  his  thigh  the 

sword  of  state. 

• 

He  then  ascended  the  throne  and  seated  himself  amid 
the  clangor  of  trumpets  and  cries  of  "  Hosanna !  hosanna ! 
Hail,  David,  the  anointed  king  !  Long  live  the  Lord's 
anointed — the  King  of  Israel !" 

Thus,  three  several  times  had  David  been  consecrated: 
the  first  time,  as  the  youthful  shepherd  of  Bethlehem  by 
Samuel  the  Seer ;  the  second  time,  by  the  High  Priest 
as  King  of  Judah,  soon  after  Saul's  death ;  and  now  the 
third  time,  as  King  of  Judah  and  of  Israel,  sole  monarch 
of  all  the  Hebrew  people. 

Absolute  now  in  his  dominions,  King  David  prepared 
to  consolidate  his  throne,  and  firmly  establish  his  author 
ity.  There  was  but  one  place  writhin  the  whole  kingdom 
over  which  Saul  had  reigned,  and  which  was  now  under 
his  own  rule,  that  did  not  send  a  delegate  to  Hebron,  to 
do  homage  to  him.  This  was  the  citadel  of  the  Jebusites, 
which,  as  I  have  already  said  to  your  majesty,  was  still 
held  in  the  midst  of  the  land  by  the  original  inhabitants. 


474  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

These  people  were  of  the  race  of  Canaanites  and  sons  of 
Heth,  of  whose  family  Abraham  bought  the  burial  place 
of  Machpelah ;  at  the  time  of  the  purchase  of  which,  he 
entered  into  a  covenant,  sealed  by  an  oath,  with  the  child 
ren  of  Heth,  that  the  castle  of  Jebus,  their  chief  strong 
hold,  should  remain  untouched  by  his  posterity,  not 
only  when  they  should  come  in  to  possess  the  land,  but 
forever.  Joshua  respected  this  oath  of  Abraham,  and 
left  the  castle  unbesieged.  The  long  line  of  warlike 
Judges  respected  the  oath,  and  even  Saul  left  this 
hereditary  garrison  in  quiet  possession  of  its  formidable 
stronghold,  though  the  city  around  it  was  in  his  hand. 

King  David,  however,  resolved  to  be  king  over  all 
IsraeJ  as  God  had  appointed  him.  He,  therefore,  sent  a 
peaceable  messenger  to  the  lord  of  this  fort  of  Zion,  de 
manding  its  surrender.  The  haughty  Canaanite  answered, 
in  the  confidence  of  long  possession  and  of  the  impregna 
ble  nature  of  the  defences, 

"  The  lame  have  never  scaled  these  rocks  on  which  we 
dwell,  nor  the  blind  found  their  way  into  our  gates.  So 
shall  thou  and  thine  be,  if  thou  comest  to  war  against 
us  ;  for  thou  canst  not  come  in  hither !" 

When  the  king's  messenger  brought  back  this  insolent 
answer  to  him,  he  forthwith  called  Joab,  his  general,  and 
commanded  him  to  take  Uriah,  the  captain  of  "  a  thou 
sand,"  and  lay  siege  to  the  fortress  of  Jebus,  and  destroy 
all  within  ;  "  especially,"  he  said,  "  fling  over  the  battle 
ments  their  gods  that  see  not  and  walk  not,  for  as  the 
Lord  liveth,  the  blind  and  lame  of  David  shall  destroy 
the  blind  and  lame  gods,  in  whom  these  idolaters  and 
enemies  of  the  true  God  trust." 

When  Joab  reached  the  valley  beneath  the  walls,  he 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      475 

eaw  that  the  Canaanite  lord  had,  in  derision,  placed  the 
lame  and  the  blind  persons  of  his  garrison  upon  the  bat 
tlements,  and  now  called  to  him,  saying, 

"It  is  meet  that  the  lame  and  blind  should  defend  a 
castle  which  the  lame  and  blind  come  against." 

When  Joab  heard  this,  he  became  greatly  enraged, 
and  exerted  himself  all  in  his  power  to  take  the  castle. 
The  third  day  came  David  the  king  to  look  on,  and,  see 
ing  how  high  the  walls  were,  and  how  difficult  of  access, 
he  cried  to  all  the  army  and  said,  "  Whosoever  shall  first 
mount  the  walls  shall  be  chief  in  command  over  all  my 
armies  both  of  Israel  and  of  Judah  !"  Upon  hearing 
this,  Joab,  who  was  the  general  of  his  hosts  as  King  of 
Judah,  divested  himself  of  his  heavy  armor,  and  helmet, 
and  greaves,  and  back-piece,  and  tying  his  sword  only  about 
his  neck,  grasped  a  sharp  pointed  javelin  and  began  to  as 
cend  the  height,  climbing  by  aid  of  the  spear  inserted  into 
the  crevices  of  the  rock.  Other  bold  hearts,  following  his 
example,  climbed  after  him.  In  the  meanwhile,  King 
David  kept  the  garrison  employed,  and  their  attention 
fixed  upon  himself  and  his  soldiers,  by  making  feint  of  an 
attack  at  another  part  of  the  wall. 

At  length  the  valiant  warrior  gained  the  citadel,  and 
raised  himself  above  the  parapet  by  the  aid  of  a  line 
which  was  let  down  to  draw  up  water ;  for  those  who 
held  it  left  and  fled  at  the  apparition  of  the  Hebrew 
chief.  In  a  moment  afterwards,  he  stood  on  the  top  of 
the  wall,  and,  waving  his  sword,  called  out  to  King  David 
far  below, 

"I  have  reached  the  battlements,  my  lord!  I  claim 
the  chief  command  of  the  armies." 

The  boldness  of  the  man,  and  his  unexpected  appear- 


476  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID  ;    OK, 

ance  behind  them,  with  the  terror  of  his  voice,  which 
they  all  knew,  for  they  had  often  seen  the  terrible  war 
rior  pass  and  repass  with  his  armies,  inspired  them  with 
fear;  and  as  he  was  soon  joined  by  others,  they  were 
filled  with  the  greatest  consternation.  Confident  that 
their  citadel  was  impregnable,  they  are  unprepared  to 
defend  it !  Joab  and  a  score  of  his  men  rushed  first  to 
the  gates  and  threw  them  open  to  King  David,  who  en 
tered  sword  in  hand,  (for  in  the  king  he  had  not  for 
gotten  the  soldier,)  and  the  Jebusites  overpowered  were 
slain  in  great  numbers,  each  man  refusing  to  surrender. 
Before  the  sun  went  down,  the  whole  citadel  was  in  the 
hands  of  David,  its  gods  cast  over  the  battlements, 
and  upon  them  Joab  affixed  the  royal  standard  of  the 
"Lion  of  the  Tribe  of  Judah."  Thus  fell  the  last  hold 
of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  land ;  held  by  them  for 
five  hundred  years,  only  out  of  the  respect  the  Hebrews' 
had*  to  the  oath  of  Abraham,  given  to  the  sons  of  Heth. 
But,  your  majesty  may  ask  why  David,  a  man  so  just, 
and  virtuous,  and  prudent,  should  break  the  oath  of 
Abraham,  so  long  held  sacred,  and  which  time  had  conse 
crated?  I  ventured  to  put  this  inquiry  to  Abiathar,  who 
is  my  friend,  and  who  has  instructed  me  in  many  things 
concerning  the  faith  of  this  people.  He  answered  me 
as  follows: 

"  This  act  of  David  does  not  imply  a  want  of  rever 
ence  for  Abraham  and  his  oath.  But  among  us  one 
period  or  dispensation  is  to  succeed  another;  and  each 
is  the  divinely-ordained  foundation  of  its  successive  one. 
The  call  of  Abraham  led  to  his  settlement  here.  This 
was  followed  by  his  removal  to  Egypt ;  that,  by  a  bond 
age;  that,  by  a  dispensation  in  the  wilderness ;  that,  by 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      477 

the  rule  of  the  elders,  by  that  of  the  Judges,  and  by  that 
of  the  two  kings.  One  form  gives  way  to  another.  In 
David  commences  a  new  era  of  things.  In  David  ter 
minates  all  that  belongs  to  the  first  great  Abrahamic 
period  of  a  thousand  years.  The  traditions  and  power  of 
Abraham  die  in  the  inauguration  of  the  Throne  of  David, 
who  is  to  be  the  founder  of  a  new  dynasty.  David  does 
not  destroy  Abraham  and  the  promises  in  him;  but  gives 
them  new  directions  through  himself  and  his  posterities. 
He  is  to  be  to  the  FUTURE,  what  Abraham  has  been  to  the 
PAST.  As  the  Hebrews  of  to-day  call  themselves  the 
seed  of  Abraham,  the  true  Israelites  of  the  future  shall 
call  themselves  the  sons  of  David ;  and  the  title  of  their 
king  shall  be  the  Prince  of  the  House  of  David,  ordained 
such  in  the  mystery  of  God  before  Abraham  was !  King 
David  therefore  has  not  broken  the  oath  of  Abraham;  for 
Abraham's  power  and  the  limit  of  his  oath  were  only  until 
David  should  annul  it.  The  royal  Abraham  saw  David's 
day,  and  bequeathed  him,  and  his  house,  his  sceptre. 
The  destruction,  therefore,  of  the  fort  of  Zion,  was  that 
sort  of  destruction  which  takes  place  in  the  seed  before 
it  germinates,  a  death  out  of  which  is  developed  a  new 
life.  This  stronghold  of  the  Canaanites  was  the  last 
link  that  bound  the  present  to  the  past ;  and  its  destruc 
tion  has  paved  the  way  for  the  future  glory  of  the  House 
of  David,  before  the  sword  of  which  all  idols  on  earth 
shall  be  overturned,  and  all  enemies  of  God  utterly  per 
ish.  By  this  act  he  foreshadowed  the  conquest  of  the 
pagan  earth,  by  the  last  Prophet  and  Prince  of  his  house, 
according  to  the  prophecy  of  Moses!  In  all  that  we 
Hebrews  do,  0  Arbaces,  we  do  but  make  copies  for  the 
future!  Adam,  Noah,  Abraham,  Moses,  David,  each  of 


478  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

these  are  founders  of  new  things,  beginnings  of  new  crea 
tions,  heads  of  eras,  each  advance  elevating  our  race, 
and  bringing  us  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  splendid  era 
of  Him,  of  whom  the  patriarchs  all  have  spoken,  as  the 
last  wielder  of  the  sceptre  of  David,  and  occupant  of  hia 
throne ;  the  Shiloh  whom  Adam  walked  with  in  Eden ; 
Abraham  saw  in  his  tent  in  Mamre ;  Jacob  wrestled  with 
for  a  blessing ;  Moses  spoke  with  in  Horeb ;  Joshua  met 
at  the  fountain  before  Jericho ;  who  was  in  the  Pillar,  and 
in  the  Cloud,  and  whose  visible  glory  dwells  in  the  She- 
chinah  between  the  Cherubim ;  Him  the  express  image 
of  God,  the  out-going  of  His  Presence,  the  Son  of  His 
right  hand,  who  in  the  fullness  of  time  shall  be  born  to 
David's  line;  as  to  his  nature,  human,  as  to  his  person, 
divine  and  immortal;  an  incarnation  in  the  flesh  and 
blood  of  a  virgin  of  the  House  of  David,  by  the  myste 
rious  union  therewith  of  the  invisible  power  and  Godheaxl ; 
a  wonderful,  glorious,  divine  man  from  hea^  en,  invested 
with  godlike  power,  whose  throne  shall  be  set  in  Jerusa 
lem,  and  whose  dominion  shall  fill  the  whole  earth!" 

Such,  your  majesty,  is  the  sublime  character  of  David, 
according  to  the  information  of  the  High  Priest,  who  ia 
supposed  to  read  the  future  by  his  near  presence  to  the 
ear  and  voice  of  the  Oracle  of  God.  Fragmentary  pro 
phecies  of  some  mighty  Being  to  descend  upon  earth  are 
not  only  scattered  through  all  the  Hebrew  writings,  but 
glitter  in  their  obscurest  traditions.  The  whole  national 
mind  seems  to  live  in  an  expectation — not  so  much  dwell 
ing  peacefully  upon  the  present  as  looking  restlessly 
to  the  future ;  not  like  a  nation  who  realize  their  high 
hopes :  a  nation  not  so  much  possessing  a  positive  good, 
but  expecting  one  to  come !  That  their  kingdom  is  to 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      479 

6e  the  first  of  all  kingdoms,  their  kings  the  Kings  of  all 
kings,  the  meanest  Hebrew  family  believes.  This  coming 
glory,  they  assort,  will  be  achieved  by  a  divine  youth  of 
celestial  beauty,  whose  nature  is  a  union  of  that  of  angels 
and  of  man ;  but  who  is  to  be  born  of  a  Hebrew  wo 
man  in  the  coming  ages.  So  deeply  is  the  national 
faith  impressed  with  this  idea,  that  every  wife  in  the  land 
for  five  hundred  years,  has  hoped  to  become  the  mother 
of  the  celestial  child-prince ;  but  Abiathar  asserts  that 
this  honor  will  be  limited  to  the  House  of  David,  and  to 
a  virgin  princess,  most  blessed  among  women,  of  that 
royal  line.  Upon  pressing  Abiathar  closely,  he  ex 
pressed  his  opinion  that,  as  a  thousand  years  had  elapsed 
from  Abraham  to  David,  a  similar  period  will  elapse 
from  David  to  this  celestial  and  powerful  Prince  of  his 
royal  House. 

Who,  your  majesty,  would  not  wish  to  live  upon  the 
earth  at  that  day,  when  this  glorious  god,  or  angel,  shall 
take  upon  him  our  flesh,  and,  through  infancy  and  child 
hood,  advance  to  manhood,  veiling  from  the  eyes  of  men 
the  splendor  of  his  divinity  under  the  carnate  veil  of  his 
humanity — a  diamond  hidden  in  a  casket  of  clay !  How, 
when  in  the  majesty  of  his  heavenly  dignity  he  shall  be 
crowned  King  of  the  earth  by  the  hand  of  God  out  of 
Heaven,  will  the  astonished  and  happy  nations  bow  down 
before  him,  and  all  kings  cast  their  crowns  at  his  feet ! 
What  honor  will  earthly  monarchs  feel  it  to  be,  to  be 
ruled  by  a  heavenly  Prince  who  yet,  as  man,  can  sym 
pathize  with  their  humanity !  Of  all  eras  of  time,  I 
would  rather,  your  majesty,  live  in  that  day  and  behold 
the  glory  of  this  divine  and  wonderful  Prince.  It  will 
be  the  realization  of  the  fable  that  the  supreme  God 


480  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

once  came  down  to  earth,  and  abode  here  as  the  King 
of  the  world ;  but  was  so  indignant  and  grieved  at  the 
sins  of  men,  that  he  returned  to  the  heavens,  and  com 
manded  men  henceforth  to  be  ruled  by  men.  Will  the 
Prince  of  the  House  of  David,  when  he  cometh,  find  the 
earth  so  wicked  that  he  will  re-ascend ;  or  will  he  re 
form  it  by  his  power  and  wisdom,  and  make  it  worthy 
of  his  throne  ? 

Pardon,  your  majesty,  these  reflections.  It  is  difficult 
not  to  have  the  mind  full  of  subjects,  which  are  the  com 
mon  theme  of  those  one  discourses  with.  I  will  now  re 
turn  to  King  David,  who  seems  to  understand  that  he  is 
chosen  by  Heaven  for  some  mighty  purpose,  in  carrying 
out  the  mysterious  history  of  his  people. 

Having  subdued  the  citadel,  he  proceeded  to  enlarge 
and  improve  it,  and  when  he  had  made  the  noble  edifico 
on  the  Mount  Zion  a  suitable  royal  residence,  he  publicly 
proclaimed  it  as  the  seat  and  throne  of  his  kingdom,  and 
gave  to  it  the  name  of  "  The  City  of  David  on  Mount 
Zion."  In  a  few  weeks  afterwards  he  removed  thither 
from  Hebron,  and  having  also  improved  and  beautified 
the  town  north  and  west  of  it,  he  enclosed  with  w^alls  and 
towers  a  greater  space,  comprising  three  hills,  and  gave 
it  the  name  of  Jerusalem,  it  having  hitherto  borne  the 
names,  Jebusalem,  Solyma,  Salem,  and  the  city  of  Moriah 

From  this  time  his  reign  began  to  prosper.  The  king- 
dom,  united,  was  at  peace  ;  and  the  Hebrews  everywhere 
lifted  up  their  happy  faces,  and  walked  with  pride  and 
contentment,  each  man  sitting  under  his  vine  and  fig  tree 
without  fear. 

The  lesser  kings  about  him  sent  congratulations  to  a 
monarch  they  perceived  that  God  was  with ;  and  a  bril- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      481 

liant  embassy  came  to  him  from  Hiram,  King  of  Tyre, 
proposing  a  league  of  friendship  and  commerce,  and 
bringing  presents  of  cedar,  and  metals,  and  precious 
stones,  and  purple  cloth,  and  stones,  and  artificers  cunning 
in  the  making  of  all  kinds  of  carved  work.  David  re 
ceived  the  presents,  and  entered  into  the  league  of 
mutual  assistance  in  war,  and  sent  to  the  Tyrian  king 
word  that  he  desired  presently  to  build  a  royal  palace, 
and  that  he  would  gladly  have  him  send  to  him  skillful 
builders  and  workmen,  as  the  artificers  of  Tyre  were 
famed  in  all  the  world. 

King  David  soon  afterwards  commenced  in  Jerusalem 
a  palace  unrivaled  for  splendor,  surrounded  himself  with 
a  magnificent  court,  increased  his  army,  and  put  in  de 
fence  all  the  cities  and  fortresses  of  his  kingdom. 

Everywhere  prosperity  and  industry  now  prevails. 
The  land  is  blessed  with  abundant  harvests,  and  peace 
in  all  its  borders.  Jerusalem  grows  in  grandeur  and 
beauty.  The  brave  Joab  is  placed  at  the  head  of  its 
strong  garrison,  and  lives  in  a  superb  palace,  with  a 
military  court  about  him  like  a  prince. 

Ahithophel  is  the  sagacious  minister  and  counselor  of 
the  king;  Hushai  is  the  lord  of  his  palace;  Uriah  is  the 
commander  of  the  army  in  the  field,  but  dwells  in  a 
stately  house  not  far  from  the  new  palace  of  the  king. 

Of  this  prosperity  the  Philistines  became  jealous,  and 
fearing  the  too  great  power  of  David,  they  secretly  raised 
an  army,  and  marched  against  Jerusalem,  intercepting 
and  destroying  the  trains  of  wagons  laden  with  Tyrian 
cedar  from  Joppa,  on  the  way  to  the  city.  David,  trust 
ing  only  in  heaven,  never  alone  in  his  own  courage  and 

numbers,  would  not  attack  them  without  God's  permis- 
31 


482  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

sion,  which  he  asked  for  through  the  ephod,  and  by  the 
High  Priest.  The  response  of  the  oracle  was  a  command 
to  go  out  against  them.  These  perpetual  foes  of  Israel 
were  defeated,  even  before  David's  hosts  under  Joab 
came  up  with  them;  for  an  army  of  angels  in  the  air 
swept  above  a  forest  of  mulberry  trees,  in  the  rear  of 
the  Philistines,  with  a  noise  like  the  swift  advance 
through  the  wood  of  a  great  army  upon  them,  of  chariots 
and  horses,  footmen  and  archers!  and  struck  with  ter 
ror,  the  enemies  of  the  Hebrews  fled,  and  were  easily 
destroyed.  This  final  blow  against  this  formidable 
power  has  secured  to  King  David  peace  in  all  his  realm. 

His  palace  is  now  completed,  and  the  court  of  David 
has  become  settled,  and  in  all  its  appointments  is  finished 
with  a  magnificence,  equal  to  that  of  Tyre  or  of  Syria. 
His  throne  surpasses  that  in  Egypt  of  the  Pharaohs;  his 
body-guards  are  clad  in  steel  armor  inlaid  with  gold ;  his 
palace  officers  are  numerous  and  richly  attired;  and  all 
the  luxury  and  splendor  of  an  ancient  court  appertains 
to  this  of  Jerusalem. 

The  site  of  this  city  is  very  commanding,  being  com 
posed  of  several  eminences  of  unequal  height,  which  are 
on  nearly  all  sides  precipitous.  Deep  ravines  separate 
them,  or  abruptly  inclined  valleys.  On  all  sides  the  city 
is  enclosed  by  hills,  save  on  the  north,  which  seem  to 
shut  it  in  like  a  wall. 

By  the  courtesy  of  the  king,  I  have  free  entrance  to 
his  palace  at  all  times.  Yesterday  his  majesty  sent  for 
me  to  come  and  see  him.  After  I  had  been  a  few  min 
utes  with  him,  and  he  had  dismissed  his  cup-bearer, 
there  being  left  in  his  presence  only  a  noble  looking  Le- 
vite,  whom  he  called  Uzziah,  he  said  to  me: 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      483 

"0  Arbaces,  who  art  become  one  of  us  in  Israel,  and 
worshipest  with  us  the  one  true  God,  I  have  deter 
mined  to  establish  the  worship  of  the  nation  I  govern 
with  a  degree  of  magnificence  in  keeping  with  the  dig 
nity  of  my  kingdom.  My  first  step  will  be  to  transfer 
the  Ark  of  God  to  Jerusalem.  I  shall  take  thirty- six 
thousand  men  with  me  to  guard  it  in  solemn  procession 
hither,  three  thousand  from  each  tribe,  and  call  all  the 
people  of  Judah  and  of  Benjamin  to  be  present  to  do  it 
honor.  It  is  now  reposing  at  Kirjath-jearim,  where  it 
has  been  kept  since  the  death  of  the  priests  at  Nob. 
Aside  from  the  honor  of  God  in  this  movement,  the  com 
ing  together  on  such  an  august  occasion  of  all  the  tribes, 
will  enable  the  people  to  see  their  king,  and  cement  the 
great  confederacy  of  which  I  am  now  the  political  head ! 
Uzziah,"  he  added,  turning  to  the  Levite,  ugo  back  to 
Kirjath-baal,  and  make  ready  all  things  for  the  removal 
of  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  hither,  on  the  day  I  have 
named,  two  months  hence !  I  leave  the  arrangement  of 
all  the  ceremonies  to  thee,  to  whom  has  been  entrusted 
the  care  and  safety  of  the  Ark  since  the  day  of  Ahime- 
lech!" 

The  Levite  shortly  took  his  departure;  and  the  king 
then  invited  me  to  accompany  him  and  his  armies  of  Is 
rael  on  the  day  he  should  march  forth  from  Jerusalem, 
to  receive  the  Oracle  of  God,  and  escort  it  to  his  capital. 

The  foresight  of  the  king  in  removing  his  court  to  this 
naturally  entrenched  city,  which  can  easily  be  rendered 
impregnable,  is  in  character  with  the  profound  sagacity 
which  governs  all  his  actions.  Not  satisfied  with  making 
it  the  political  and  military  head,  his  camp  and  court, 
he  resolves  to  make  it  the  religious  centre  of  his 


484  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

realm,  the  place  of  sacrifices,  the  site  of  the  Tabernacle, 
and  the  abode  of  the  High  Priests.  Thus  he  will  gather 
about  him  the  leading  courtiers,  warriors,  priests,  and 
eminent  men  of  his  kingdom,  and  render  it,  if  his  reign 
be  prolonged,  one  of  the  most  brilliant  capitals  upon  the 
earth. 

But  it  is  time,  your  majesty,  that  I  bring  this  long 
letter  to  a  close.  Adora  never  fails  to  desire  to  be  com 
mended  to  a  king  I  so  much  esteem  as  a  friend,  and 
honor  as  a  monarch. 

Your  faithful 

ARBACES. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      485 


LETTER    XV. 

ARBACES  TO  KING  BELUS. 

CITY  OP  DATID. 

YOUR  MAJESTY, 

A  YEAR  has  passed  since  the  accident  by  which  I  was 
thrown  from  my  horse,  and  it  is  with  very  great  pleasure  I 
can  resume  again  my  pen  and  interrupted  correspondence ; 
albeit,  my  wife,  as  your  majesty  is  pleased  to  say,  proves 
not  "by  any  means  a  poor  scribe."  I  have  no  doubt, 
indeed,  that  her  letters,  did  they  go  beyond  the  mere 
form  of  my  diplomatic  correspondence,  would  prove  far 
more  agreeable  to  peruse  than  my  own :  for  our  sex  do 
not  possess  that  talent  for  epistolary  writing  which 
women  so  eminently  display.  If  you  find  in  my  letters 
any  passages  more  brilliant  and  graceful  than  usual,  your 
majesty  must  refer  them  to  the  tasteful  suggestions  of 
the  daughter  of  Isrilid. 

The  proposed  removal  of  the  Ark  to  this  city  took 
place  on  the  day  appointed.  The  whole  ceremony  was 
conducted  with  great  pomp  and  magnificence.  It  was 
my  privilege  to  accompany  the  king  and  his  court. 
When  we  arrived  in  the  valley  before  the  citadel  of 
Kirjath-jearim,  which  used  to  hold  a  magnificent  temple 
of  Baal,  the  king  advanced  at  the  head  of  the  lords, 
governors,  chief-captains,  elders,  and  priests  towards 


486  THE    THBONE    OF    DAVID;    UK, 

the  gate.  A  splendid  guard  of  thirty  thousand  men, 
which  he  had  assembled,  were  drawn  up  before  it  in 
a  hollow  square  opening  towards  the  town.  Every 
soldier  had  a  sprig  of  olive-leaf  in  his  helmet,  or  wreathed 
about  his  sword,  and  all  the  officers  wore  a  scarf  of  fine- 
twined  white  linen  over  their  corslets,  in  token  of  the 
sacerdotal  character  of  their  present  service.  The  stand 
ards  of  the  captains  of  hundreds  and  of  thousands  were 
decorated  with  blue  fringes,  the  sacred  color  of  the  priest 
hood.  The  day  was  cloudless.  Heaven  seemed  to  smile 
on  the  scene.  Thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of 
people  in  their  festival  attire  lined  the  walls  of  Kirjath- 
baal,  and  extended  along  the  valley  up  the  highway  to 
Jerusalem  in  endless  lines.  The  whole  spectacle  was 
grand  and  imposing.  It  was  a  nation,  headed  by  its  king, 
about  to  perform  the  highest  honor  to  their  God,  by  re 
moving,  in  solemn  procession,  the  House  of  his  Holiness 
from  an  obscure  village  to  the  capital  of  the  kingdom  of 
his  people.  In  this  devout  act,  how  eminent  is  the 
proof  of  David's  piety  !  referring  all  his  glory  and  power 
to  God,  and  resolving  thus  publicly  to  honor  Him  as  the 
Giver  of  all  things  which  were  in  his  possession. 

The  king  advancing  to  the  gate  with  the  High  Priest 
at  his  side,  was  met  therein  by  the  noble-looking  Levite 
Uzziah,  who,  richly-attired,  stood  by  the  Ark,  which 
rested  upon  a  car,  whereon  it  had  been  brought,  thus  far, 
from  the  Tabernacle  in  the  town  where  it  had  been  kept. 
Behind  it  was  a  long  train  of  four  hundred  Levitea 
carrying  the  Tabernacle,  in  separate  portions,  the  heaviest 
part  being  permitted  to  be  placed  on  wagons  and  drawn 
by  heifers. 

To  the  surprise  of  King  David,  the  Ark  itself,  which 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      487 

ought  to  have  been  borne  on  the  shoulders  of  twelve 
Levites  wearing  their  linen  ephods,  was  elevated  upon  a 
chariot  drawn  by  oxen. 

"How  is  this,  0  Uzziah?"  he  cried  with  indignation; 
"  where  are  the  Levites,  whose  duty  it  is  to  bear  the  Ark 
of  God?  Dost  thou  not  know  the  Ark  of  the  Lord  shall 
rest  only  on  the  shoulders  of  men  f  The  Philistines,  when 
they  sent  it  back  to  us,  ignorantly  placed  it  upon  a  cart ; 
but  those  who  received  it,  instead  of  putting  it  upon  the 
shoulders  of  Levites,  according  to  the  Law,  rested  it 
upon  the  ground,  touching  it  with  sacrilegious  hands; 
and  all  Israel  know  how  this  departure  from  the  law  of 
the  Lord  caused  the  death  of  severity  of  the  elders  of  the 
people!" 

"My  lord,  the  king,"  answered  Uzziah,  "there  are 
no  staves  to  carry  the  Ark  with;  and  I  found  no  Levites. 
I  therefore  placed  it  reverently  on  this  car,  to  take  it  to 
the  city  of  David." 

The  king  appeared  very  greatly  distressed  at  this 
sacrilegious  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  guardian  of  the 
Divine  Oracle;  but,  as  no  man  dared  (not  even  a  king) 
to  lay  his  hands  upon  it,  and  as  no  consecrated  rods  could 
now  be  had,  he  commanded  that  the  Ark  should  go  for- 
wprd  as  it  was. 

Tt  was  received,  as  it  passed  the  gate,  with  the  waving 
of  a  censer  of  incense  by  the  High  Priest,  who  went  be 
fore  it,  while  seventy  priests,  holding  trumpets  of  brass  in 
their  hands,  immediately  escorted  it,  walking  on  each  side 
of  it,  and  behind  it.  David,  as  it  moved  on,  giving  his 
sword  to  his  armor-bearer,  took  a  golden  harp  from  his 
servant,  and  struck  a  noble  hymn  to  his  God,  accompanied 
by  a  choir  of  priests,  who  played  merrily  upon  harps,  psal- 


488  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

teries,  cymbals,  cornets,  dulcimers,  timbrels,  and  all 
manner  of  instruments  of  music.  When  the  Ark  had 
reached  the  centre  of  the  military  square  of  thirty 
thousand  men,  they  faced,  at  the  command  of  Joab,  to 
wards  Jerusalem,  and  the  priests  sounding  their  seventy 
brazen  trumpets,  which  were  responded  to  by  all  the  war- 
bugles,  the  host  commenced  their  march  as  guardians 
of  the  Oracle  of  God.  The  thousands  of  people  who 
followed  it  from  the  citadel  and  town  of  Baal,  and  the 
countless  numbers  who  lined  the  ways,  caught  up  the 
chorus  of  praise,  and  filled  the  air  with  hallelujas  to  the 
Lord  who  dwelleth  between  the  Cherubim. 

At  length,  the  Ark  rested  at  a  place  called  the  floor 
of  Chidon,  and  when  it  was  about  to  move  forward  again, 
the  car  whereupon  it  was  borne,  meeting  with  some  rough 
places  over  which  one  of  the  oxen  fell,  was  shaken  so  that 
Uzziah,  who,  with  his  assistant,  Ahio,  walked  close  by  it, 
fearing  the  Ark  would  be  shaken  to  the  ground,  put  forth 
his  hand  to  steady  it,  touching  the  Ark  itself.  This  aot 
of  sacrilege  was  instantly  punished  by  the  divine  glory 
which  dwelt  between  the  Cherubim,  for  he  fell  dead,  as 
if  smitten  by  lightning  !  This  Divine  judgment  upon  a 
man  whose  act  showed  want  of  faith  in  God,  as  the  pro 
tector  of  His  own  tabernacle,  filled  the  whole  host  with 
consternation.  David  stood  in  silence,  gazing  upon  the 
dead  man.  The  High  Priest  remained  immoveable,  and 
all  who  were  with  him.  The  instruments  of  music  ceased, 
and  a  dread  silence  and  awe  prevailed  !  Every  eye  rested 
upon  the  king.  His  face  looked  dark  and  heavy.  I 
could  read  from  his  looks,  that  he  regarded  it  as  an  evil 
augury  for  such  a  thing  to  happen  at  the  beginning  of 
his  reign.  It  was  a  fearful  interruption  to  the  joy  of 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      489 

such  a  solemnity.  He  felt,  also,  that  he  had  been  to 
blame  for  not  personally  attending  to  the  proper  carry 
ing  of  the  Ark  ere  it  left  Baal  of  Judah.  The  seventy 
priests  looked  as  if  they  expected  instantly  from  heaven 
still  further  judgments,  as  of  old,  upon  themselves.  I 
saw  the  king  remove  his  helm,  and  bow  his  head  with 
humble  submission,  as  if  prepared  to  receive  also  the 
lightnings  of  the  Lord,  who  had  been  so  grievously 
offended.  But  one  victim  appeased  the  celestial  anger  ! 
No  second  stroke  of  His  displeasure  fell ! 

The  king  was  now  at  a  loss  what  to  do  !  He  feared 
to  move  the  Ark  any  farther  !  No  man  dared  approach 
it !  All  stood  aloof  gazing  upon  it  with  terror,  equal  to 
that  with  which  the  infidel  Philistines,  fifty  years  before, 
hud  regarded  it. 

"  What  shall  be  done,  0  Abiathar?"  he  asked  of  the 
High  Priest. 

Opposite  the  place  where  they  were,  stood  the  house 
of  a  poor  but  pious  Hebrew,  called  Obededom.  Into  his 
humble  dwelling  the  High  Priest  advised  the  king  to 
have  it  taken.  Removing  the  oxen,  Abiathar,  with  so 
lemn  awe,  protected  by  his  sacred  office,  conducted  it  to 
the  gate,  drawing  the  car  in  !  There  it  was  left  still  in 
the  chariot,  within  a  court-yard,  under  the  shelter  of  a 
pavilion  which  the  priests  erected  above  it,  enclosing  it 
from  all  eyes.  David  then  appointed  a  guard  of  Levitea 
to  keep  watch  over  it  night  and  day  until  he  should  know 
from  the  Lord  what  he  ought  to  do  with  this  House  of 
His  Majesty.  With  sad  hearts  the  long  procession  re 
turned  to  Jerusalem,  the  people  sadly  seeking  their 
homes,  shaking  their  heads,  and  prophesying  evil  to  the 
king  and  to  the  nation. 


490  THE   THRONE   OF  DAVID;   OR, 

This  unhappy  event  greatly  depressed  David,  and 
humbled  him  before  the  Lord,  so  that  for  many  days  he 
fasted  and  withdrew  himself  from  all  public  affairs. 

At  length,  at  the  end  of  three  months,  it  was  told  him 
that  the  poor  man  in  whose  habitation  the  Ark  had  been 
sheltered  was  becoming  greatly  favored  of  the  Lord : 
his  fields  bore  an  hundred  fold ;  his  flocks  and  herds 
wonderfully  increased,  and  all  that  he  put  his  hand  to 
prospered  ;  so  that  it  was  said  :  "  Who  prospereth  and  is 
blessed  like  Obededom  in  all  Israel !" 

"  Truly  the  blessing  on  this  poor  Gittite  should  be 
upon  Jerusalem  and  all  Israel,"  said  the  king.  "I  will 
go  and  bring  again  the  Ark  of  the  Lord,  but  not,  as  be 
fore,  without  holy  preparation,  but  with  sanctified  hearts, 
as  becometh  those  who  enter  the  presence  of  God !" 

The  same  day  he  made  proclamation  that  all  the  Le 
vites  in  the  land  should  assemble  themselves  together  on 
a  certain  day  at  Jerusalem.  He  also  commanded  the 
priests,  and  also  the  High  Priest,  to  sanctify  them 
selves  seven  days  before  the  Lord.  When  the  twelve 
thousand  Levites  and  seven  hundred  priests  came  toge 
ther,  Abiathar  offered  up  sacrifices  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  making  an  expiatory  offering  for  all,  from  the 
monarch  to  the  humblest  Levite.  The  king  then  said 
to  Abiathar,  "Associate  with  you  the  pious  Zadok,  who 
was  Saul's  High  Priest,  as  second  to  yourself,  and  all 
the  sons  of  Aaron,  and  the  chief  priests,  and  all  ye  who 
are  the  chief  of  the  fathers  of  the  Levites,  and  sanctify 
yourselves,  that  ye  may  go  and  bring  up  the  Ark  of 
the  Lord  God  of  Israel  unto  the  Tabernacle  I  have  pre 
pared  for  it.  For  it  was  because  ye  were  not  sanctified 
before,  and  I  chose  armed  men  to  guard  the  Ark,  and 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      491 

made  a  display  of  God's  glory  to  please  the  people,  and 
show  my  own  pomp  and  greatness,  the  Lord  hath  hum 
bled  me  and  you !  Let  us  now  seek  the  holy  God,  after 
the  due  order  of  our  holy  priesthood  of  old,  for  in  these 
last  years  we  have  greatly  neglected  the  honor  of  God, 
and  been  remiss  in  our  sacred  duties.  See  that  staves 
be  provided,  with  Levites  who  are  of  the  house  of  Ko- 
hath,  to  bear  them  according  as  Moses  commanded,  and 
let  none  come  near  or  follow  the  Ark  but  the  sons  of 
Aaron,  and  the  Levites  who  are  sanctified  !  Let  it  be  a 
solemn  and  religious  day  for  all  Israel !" 

At  the  appointed  time  the  sacred  procession  of  priests 
and  Levites  went  forth  from  the  gates  of  Jerusalem,  and 
approached  with  solemn  tread  the  place  beyond  the  hills 
where  the  Ark  of  God  rested.  David  and  his  court  fol 
lowed,  with  all  his  great  officers,  but  no  armed  hosts 
were  with  him. 

A  choir  of  sacred  choristers,  consisting  only  of  sons 
of  Levi,  who  played  on  all  manner  of  instruments,  ac 
companied  David,  also  his  own  harp-bearer.  The  king 
himself  wore  an  ephod,  and  laid  aside  all  his  armor ;  for 
he  wished  it  to  appear  altogether  a  religious  and  peace 
ful  ceremony,  at  which  he  was  about  to  preside  in  honor 
of  God. 

When  David  and  the  company  of  priests,  with  the 
High  Priest  Abiathar,  and  the  Chief  Priest  Zadok, 
came  before  the  house  of  Obededom,  the  singers  and 
players  upon  psalteries,  cymbals  of  brass,  harps,  and 
trumpets,  at  the  command  of  David,  played  a  solemn 
hymn  to  God.  Then  the  High  Priest  sacrificed  seven 
bullocks,  and  seven  rams,  before  the  Ark,  ere  he  himself 
or  any  man  dared  approach  it.  and  sprinkled  the  blood 


492  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

seven  times  before  the  Ark,  and  before  the  Mercy-seat 
and  Cherubim,  where  the  name  of  God  dwelt !  He  then 
sprinkled  the  twelve  Levites  of  the  sons  of  Kohath,  who 
were  to  bear  the  Ark,  with  the  blood  of  the  slain  victims, 
and  consecrated  Obededom,  and  his  servant  the  keeper 
of  the  Ark,  also  with  blood.  Now  with  his  own  gar 
ments  all  red,  and  his  vesture  dipped  in  the  blood  of  the 
sacrifices,  protected  on  all  sides  by  the  mysterious  de 
fence  of  blood,  he  drew  near  the  dread  Ark  of  God's 
presence,  which,  without  sacrificial  shedding  of  blood,  no 
man  could  approach  and  live.  Pale  and  trembling,  the 
twelve  sons  of  Kohath  raised  the  Ark  by  the  staves 
placed  through  its  rings.  As  they  advanced,  Zadoc  the 
Chief  Priest  went  before  swinging  the  censer  of  incense, 
and  the  High  Priest  followed  him  sprinkling  the  path  of 
the  Ark  with  blood  ! 

King  David  stood  and  earnestly  beheld  to  see  if  the 
men  who  bore  it  lived !  When  he  saw  them  march  seven 
steps,  he  commanded  them  to  stop.  The  favor  of  heaven 
was  then  supplicated,  and  the  High  Priest  sacrificed  a  lamb 
before  the  Ark !  At  every  seven  steps  a  victim  bled,  and 
the  blood  sprinkled  the  way,  while  the  deprecatory  in 
cense  continually  aspended,  and  the  low  solemn  chant  of 
humiliation  of  the  singers  filled  the  air.  The  Ark  having 
advanced  seven  times  seven  steps,  the  high  sacred  num 
ber,  and  no  signs  of  Divine  displeasure  apparent,  and 
seven  victims  having  bled  before  its  progress,  the  king 
with  looks  of  joy  cried  aloud, 

"The  Lord  is  gracious  and  merciful,  long  suffering, 
and  of  great  kindness:  he  keepeth  not  his  anger  forever! 
Let  the  people  lift  up  their  voices  and  shout  for  joy! 
Blow  ye  the  trumpets,  ye  priests,  for  the  Lord  hath  re- 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      493 

ceived  our  prayer !  Let  all  Israel  praise  him  with  cornet 
and  harp !  Let  all  the  people  shout,  and  praise  the  name 
of  the  Lord ! 

The  Ark  now  advanced,  no  longer  regarded  as  a  cen 
tre  of  terror,  but  as  the  beloved  and  glorious  presence 
of  their  reconciled  God. 

It  would  be  impossible,  your  majesty,  to  convey  to 
your  mind  a  just  conception  of  the  profound  happiness 
which  possessed  the  Hebrews  of  all  ranks,  at  the  favor 
able  progress  of  the  House  of  their  Divine  Oracle,  towards 
Jerusalem.  The  king,  wearing  the  sacred  linen  robe, 
went  before  it  on  foot,  attended  in  this  humble  manner 
by  his  whole  court.  Seven  times  the  Ark  rested  during 
the  day  between  the  house  of  Obededom  and  the  gate  of 
Jerusalem,  and  seven  times  sacrifices  were  offered  unto 
the  Lord,  with  continual  waving  of  incense  before  the 
Ark,  while  the  king  and  the  singers,  with  their  harps  of 
gold,  chanted  praises  to  God  in  solemn  and  joyful  voices. 

As  the  sacred  procession  drew  near  the  city,  the  walls 
were  lined  with  the  rejoicing  citizens,  and  multitudes 
stood  on  the  hills,  which  stand  round  about  Jerusalem, 
gazing  upon  the  sublime  spectacle.  The  presence  of  the 
Ark  was  indicated  to  the  eyes  of  those  who  were  the 
most  remote,  by  the  bright,  mysterious  halo  of  glory, 
which  appeared  between  the  Cherubim.  The  last  and 
seventh  rest,  and  sacrifice,  was  made  at  a  place  outside 
of  the  city,  where  the  Levites  rested  the  Ark,  previous 
to  the  march  into  the  city  of  David.  It  was  a  hill  north 
of  Mount  Zion,  and  separated  from  it  by  a  narrow  valley. 
Here,  tradition  says,  Isaac  was  laid  upon  the  altar,  and 
near  here,  if  not  on  this  spot,  prophecy  declares  the 
future  throne  of  the  last  Prince  of  the  Hebrews  shall  be 


4:94  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OK, 

erected,  upon  a  high  altar  consecrated  by  the  blood  of 
the  last  High  Priest  of  the  people,  whose  great  sins  (be 
yond  the  atonement  of  the  blood  of  bulls  and  of  goats) 
will  cry  aloud  for  that  of  the  High  Priest  himself! 

When  the  Ark  passed  into  the  gate  of  the  city  of 
David,  a  resplendent  light  illumined  the  Mercy-seat,  and 
to  the  songs  of  the  priests  there  were  heard  angelic 
voices  in  the  heavens,  as  if  the  sons  of  God  on  high  re 
joiced  with  the  sons  of  men  below,  in  the  presence  of  the 
Lord,  coming  to  dwell  within  the  city  of  the  king  of  his 
people.  They  now  came  in  sight  of  the  palace,  and  also 
of  the  Tabernacle  on  Mount  Zion,  which  the  king  had 
previously  ordered  to  be  put  up  according  to  the  pattern 
shown  to  Moses  in  the  Mount  of  Horeb ;  the  inner  Sanc 
tuary  being  enclosed  within  the  curtained  walls  of  the 
outer  Tabernacle  or  Court  of  Sacrifice. 

Here  the  High  Priest  changed  the  march  into  a  reli 
gious  rite,  moving  with  measured  steps  to  the  sound  of 
the  most  solemn  music  played  upon  harps,  the  king 
himself  leading,  striking  the  chords  of  his  golden  psal 
tery.  In  this  religious  dance,  if  so  majestic  a  movement 
may  be  termed  such,  and  which  one  of  the  wives  of  Da 
vid  witnessed  from  the  palace  and  ridiculed,  the  king 
and  the  priests  participated  until  they  came  before  the 
Tabernacle.  Then  the  Ark  was  borne  amid  clouds  of 
preceding  incense  into  the  Tabernacle.  Here,  upon  the 
Altar  of  Burnt-offering,  a  fresh  victim  was  slain,  with  the 
blood  of  which  the  High  Priest  sprinkled  the  way  to  the 
Sanctuary,  in  which  Holy  Place,  after  taking  their  san 
dals  from  their  feet,  the  bearers  of  the  Ark  entered  and 
Bet  it 'down  in  the  midst  thereof;  the  golden  Candle 
stick  being  on  one  side,  and  the  Table  of  Shew-bread  on 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      495 

the  other ;  while  the  Altar  of  Incense  stood  in  its  place 
farther  on.  Here,  first  consecrating  the  way  with  in 
cense,  the  two  High  Priests,  Abiathar  and  Zadoc,  taking 
the  Ark  between  them,  bore  it  with  silent  awe  into  the 
Holy  of  Holies,  and  placed  it  reverently  behind  the 
Vail.  As  soon  as  they  re-appeared,  the  king,  who  stood 
in  the  court  of  the  Tabernacle,  struck  his  harp  to  a 
sublime  hymn  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  at  the  happy 
and  prosperous  termination  of  his  pious  duty. 

The  next  day,  the  king  proceeded  to  appoint  the  order 
of  worship,  re-establishing  the  ancient  rites  arid  ceremo 
nies,  and  inaugurating  them  with  increased  splendor. 
He  appointed  the  High  Priest  over  the  priesthood,  and 
Zadoc  his  second  in  order  ;  and  the  courses  of  the  Lc- 
vites,  and  the  companies  of  singers,  and  directed  the 
manner  in  which  morning  and  evening  worship  should  be 
performed.  To  his  chief  singer  he  gave  the  following 
Psalm,  with  which  the  sublime  services  of  the  Tabernacle 
were  formally  opened ;  one  company  answering  another 
company  with  psalteries,  cymbals,  harps,  and  cornets  ; 
while  a  choir  of  priests,  with  trumpets  of  silver,  brass, 
and  ivory,  swelled  the  pcean  of  praise. 

DAVID,  THE  KINO,  WITH  THE  HARP. 
JSing  unto  the  Lord  all  the  earth  ; 
Shoio  forth  from  day  to  day  his  salvation. 

SINGERS  AND  TRUMPETS, 
Declare  his  glory  among  the  heathen, 
His  marvelous  works  among  all  nations : 

KING. 

For  great  is  the  Lord,  and  greatly  to  be  praised, 
He  also  i.s  to  be  feared  abuve  all  gods : 


496  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

CHOIR. 

For  all  the  gods  of  the  people  are  idols, 
But  the  Lord  made  the  heavens. 

KING. 

Sing  unto  the  Lord  all  the  earth  ; 
Show  forth  from  day  to  day  his  salvation 

CHOIR. 

Glory  and  honor  are  in  his  presence, 
Strength  and  gladness  are  in  his  palaces. 

KING. 

Give  unto  the  Lord  ye  kindreds  of  the  people, 
Give  unto  the  Lord  glory  and  strength. 

KING  AND  CHOIR. 
Give  unto  the  Lord  the  glory  due  unto  his  name. 

KING. 

Sing  unto  the  Lord  all  the  earth  ; 
Show  forth  from  day  to  day  his  salvation. 

CHOIR. 

Bring  an  offering,  and  come  before  him ; 
Worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holiness. 

KING. 

Let  the  heavens  be  glad,  and  let  the  earth  rejoice, 

And  let  men  say  among  the  nations,  "The  Lord  reigneth." 

CHOIR  AND  TRUMPETS. 
Let  the  sea  roar  and  the  fullness  thereof; 
Let  the  fields  rejoice  and  all  that  is  therein 

KING. 

Sing  unto  the  Lord  all  the  earth  ; 
Show  forth  from  day  to  day  his  salvation. 

CHOIR. 

0  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord,  for  he  is  good- 
For  his  mercy  endure th  forever. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.          497 

CHOIR  AND  TRUMPET. 

Worship  the  Lord — praise  his  holy  name, 

Let  everything  that  hath  breath  praise  the  Lord. 

KING. 

Sing  unto  the  Lord  all  the  earth ; 

CHOIR. 
And  show  forth  from  day  to  day  his  salvation. 

KING,  CHOIR,  AND  TRUMPETS 

Give  thanks — give  thanks  unto  his  holy  name. 
Give  glory — give  praise  to  his  glorious  name. 

PRIESTS  AND  LEVITES. 
Blessed  be  the  LORD  G  od  of  Israel  forever  and  ever. 

ALL  THE  PEOPLE. 

Amen. 

This  final  Amen  repeated,  and  again  repeated,  by 
king,  priests,  Levites,  and  people,  accompanied  by  all 
the  instruments  of  music,  with  the  thunder  of  the  choir 
of  trumpets,  seemed  to  shake,  with  its  sublime  chorus, 
Mount  Zion  to  its  foundations. 

Sacrifices  were  again  solemnly  offered,  and  thus  the 
inauguration  of  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  in  the  Taber 
nacle  of  David  on  Mount  Zion  was  finished.  The  king 
then  dismissed  all  the  people  with  presents  and  with  food 
to  their  homes.  Now  Jerusalem  has  become  the  seat 
of  empire,  of  religion,  and  of  power,  and  also  the  cen 
tre  of  arts  and  arms.  The  genius  and  intelligence  of 
the  king,  his  taste  in  all  the  refinements  of  the  age,  his 
wonderful  love  for  music,  poetry,  and  architecture,  his 
warlike  education,  his  piety  and  amiability  of  character, 


498  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

all  combined,  exert  an  influence  over  his  court  and  em 
pire  such  as  few  kings  of  the  earth  are  able  to  command. 
He  has  invited  to  his  capital  the  wise  men,  and  scholars, 
and  philosophers,  as  well  as  the  poets,  artificers,  and  sol 
diers  of  all  lands,  and  among  his  own  people  he  rewards 
genius  and  talent  with  the  most  distinguished  honors, 
wherever  it  develops  itself. 

Yet  with  all  the  magnificence  and  regal  power  with 
which  he  loves  to  surround  himself,  (for  all  his  ideas  are 
kingly  and  imperial,  as  if  he  were  born  to  the  throne, 
and  had  been  educated  in  a  sumptuous  court,)  he  forgets 
not  the  gentler  and  holier  duties  which  he  owed  to  the 
memory  of  his  departed  friend,  Prince  Jonathan !  He 
had  no  sooner  established,  on  a  firm  basis,  the  religious 
observances  of  the  Tabernacle,  than  he  turned  his  heart 
towards  Jonathan  to  whom  he  remembered  his  solemn 
oath  to  protect  his  house.  He  again  set  on  foot  inqui 
ries  to  ascertain  if  any  remained  of  the  house  of  Saul, 
or  of  Jonathan,  and  at  length  a  man,  an  ancient  servant 
of  Saul,  named  Ziba,  said  to  the  king's  servants  that 
if  they  would  bring  him  before  the  king  he  would  tell 
him  who  of  Saul's  house  lived.  When  they  had  brought 
him  in  before  the  king,  he  said  to  him : 

"  If  thou  art  Ziba,  the  servant  of  Saul  and  of  Jona 
than,  canst  thou  tell  me  if  there  live  yet  any  one  of  their 
house  that  I  may  show  kindness  before  God  unto  him?" 

"Jonathan's  son,  Mephibosheth,  yet  livetli,  0  king," 
answered  the  man ;  "but  will  my  lord  the  king  make 
oath  before  the  Lord  to  his  servant  that  he  will  do  the  lad 
good  and  riot  evil,  if  thy  servant  maketh  known  to  my 
lord  the  king  where  he  dwelleth?" 

"  I  have  sworn  to  Jonathan,  as  the  Lord  liveth,  I  will 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.     499 

be  as  a  father  to  his  father's  house  and  to  his  seed,"  an 
swered  the  king.  "  Where  is  the  son  of  my  friend?" 

"  Beyond  Jordan,  in  Mount  Gilead,  where  he  hath 
kept  himself  safely  hidden  this  many  years,  lest  he  should 
fall  into  the  king's  hand,"  answered  Ziba,  boldly.  "  The 
prince,  0  king,  is  a  young  man  of  infirm  health,  being 
lame  in  both  feet  from  an  accident  which  befel  him  when 
five  years  of  age,  his  nurse,  terrified  at  hearing  of  the 
death  of  Jonathan  and  Saul,  letting  him  fall  from  her 
hold  to  the  ground." 

"  Therefore  docs  he  need  more  the  kindness  of  his 
king  and  father's  friend,"  said  the  generous  monarch, 
with  feeling.  "  Go  and  tell  him  David  desires  to  see 
him,  that  he  may  show  kindness  to  him  for  his  noble 
father's  sake,  and  also  for  Saul  his  grandfather!" 

None  but  a  truly  noble  and  dignified  nature,  your  ma 
jesty,  could  have  cherished  and  expressed  such  lasting 
friendship  as  this. 

The  king  having  thus  honorably  and  in  a  royal  man 
ner  prepared  to  redeem  his  oath  to  Jonathan,  when  both 
wrere  young  men,  and  the  former  a  fugitive  shepherd  with 
out  where  to  lay  his  head,  he  sent  a  special  ambassador 
to  Hiram,  King  of  Tyre,  to  make  a  league  of  commerce 
with  him,  which  provided  that  the  Hebrews,  who  were  an 
agricultural  people,  should  exchange  their  productions 
with  the  Phoenicians,  who  were  a  commercial  people. 
The  two  kings  interchanged  treaties,  and  this  has  led  to 
a  friendly  intercourse  between  them,  and  to  a  regular 
correspondence  of  personal  friendship.  The  result  of 
this  wise  treaty  is  already  being  apparent  in  the  increased 
wealth  of  the  nation,  which  finds  a  ready  market  for  all 
its  productions,  and  in  the  increased  magnificence  and 


500  THE   THRONE   OF    DAVID;    OR, 

comfort  to  be  found,  not  only  in  Jerusalem,  but  in  all 
the  cities,  through  the  introduction  of  articles  of  use  and 
luxury  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  with  which  opulent 
Tyre  pays  for  the  corn,  and  wine,  and  oil,  and  fruits  of 
this  land  of  boundless  agricultural  wealth. 

"  One  thing  more  remains  for  me  to  do,  0  Arbaces,*' 
said  this  wise  and  great  king  to  me  a  few  days  since. 
"  I  live  in  a  royal  palace  of  cedar,  and  sit  upon  a  throne 
of  ivory,  and  there  is  no  house  for  the  Lord  God  to  dwell 
in,  save  the  Tabernacle  of  curtains,  the  pattern  of  that 
which  our  fathers  had  in  the  wilderness !  While  we 
were  wanderers,  and  afterwards  while  we  were  yet  at 
war,  and  were  compelled  to  change  our  capital  from  place 
to  place,  it  was  appropriate  to  worship  in  a  moveable 
tabernacle.  But  now  I  have  made  Jerusalem  the  capi 
tal  forever  of  my  kingdom,  and  here  is  established  my 
throne,  and  hither  I  have  brought  the  Ark  of  Testimony 
to  give  it  a  place  herein  in  all  ages.  I  cannot  rest, 
therefore,  until  I  erect  here,  on  Mount  Moriah,  opposite 
my  palace  of  Mount  Zion,  a  temple  to  God,  that,  as  He  is 
the  God  of  gods,  shall  surpass  in  magnificence  all  the 
temples  of  the  gods  of  the  heathen  in  the  whole  earth  !" 

Thus  did  this  devout  man  of  God,  your  majesty,  seek 
to  honor  Him  who  had  raised  him  from  the  humble  con 
dition  of  a  shepherd  to  the  dignity  and  power  of  a  great 
monarch.  A  truly  religious  prince,  he  prays  to  his  God 
three  times  a  day,  and  passes  hours  in  divine  meditations, 
in  sacred  compositions  of  hymns  for  the  worship  of  the 
Sanctuary,  and  in  pious  acts.  Hence  it  was  natural  to 
him  to  reflect  painfully  upon  the  meanness  of  the  Taber 
nacle  of  his  Lord  in  comparison  with  the  splendor  of  his 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      501 

own  house  of  cedar  and  gold,  crowning  like  a  diadera  of 
beauty  the  head  of  Mount  Zion. 

This  idea  so  occupied  his  thoughts  that  he  at  length 
sent  for  the  Prophet  Nathan,  whose  name  your  majesty 
will  recall,  who  had  succeeded  the  Seer  Samuel  over  the 
School  of  the  Prophets  at  Eamali.  When  the  man  of 
God  appeared  before  the  king,  David  met  him  with  that 
friendly  regard  he  has  ever  had  for  him  since  he  wag 
with  him  in  the  School  of  the  Prophets,  where  your  ma 
jesty  will  recollect  Nathan  was  one  of  the  teachers  of 
David,  though  not  many  years  his  senior. 

"What  wouldst  thou,  my  lord,  of  thy  servant?"  asked 
the  dignified  prophet. 

"  I  have  sent  for  thee,  0  Nathan,  to  ask  of  thee  coun 
sel,  for  the  wisdom  of  the  Lord  is  upon  thee.  Behold  I 
sit  at  peace,  and  in  honor  upon  the  throne  of  my  king 
dom,  and  God  hath  given  me  rest  round  about  from  all 
mine  enemies.  See  now,  I  dwell  in  an  house  of  cedar, 
but  the  Ark  of  God  dwelleth  within  curtains.  I  desire 
to  build  a  house  to  the  Lord,  worthy  of  me  and  of  my 
prosperity  and  greatness,  and  that  shall  honor  His  great 
Name,  who  is  the  one  God  over  all,  glorious  in  majesty 
and  infinite  in  power  and  holiness.  Shall  the  gods  of  the 
heathen  dwell  in  temples  of  stone,  and  of  brass,  and  of 
costly  woods,  and  the  God  of  Israel  dwell  in  tents?" 

"  Let  my  lord  the  king  do  that  which  is  right  in  his 
own  eyes,  for  the  Lord  will  assuredly  accept  thine  offer 
ing,"  answered  the  prophet,  whose  national  pride  and  de 
vout  honor  for  the  splendor  of  the  national  worship, 
doubtless,  led  him  to  assent,  without  that  reflection  and 
consultation  with  his  God  which  became  a  prophet. 


502  THE   THRONE   OF    DAVID;    OR, 

But  the  next  day  he  hastened  to  reappear  before  the 
king,  and  said : 

"  Hear,  0  king,  and  listen  not  to  the  voice  of  erring 
man,  but  to  the  voice  of  God.  Last  night,  in  the  vision 
of  the  night,  lo,  the  Lord  appeared  unto  me,  and  said : 

"  Go  and  tell  my  servant  David,  Thus  saith  the  Lord, 
Shalt  thou  build  me  a  house  for  me  to  dwell  in  ?  Whereas 
I  have  not  dwelt  in  any  house  since  the  time  that  I  brought 
up  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt  even  to  this  day, 
but  have  walked  in  a  tent  and  in  a  tabernacle.  In  all 
the  places  wherein  I  have  walked  with  all  the  children  of 
Israel,  spake  I  a  word  with  any  of  the  tribes  of  Israel, 
whom  I  commanded  to  feed  my  people  Israel,  saying, 
Why  build  ye  not  me  a  house  of  cedar?  Now,  there 
fore,  so  shalt  thou  say  unto  my  servant  David,  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  I  took  thee  from  the  sheep-cote, 
from  following  the  sheep,  to  be  ruler  over  my  people, 
over  Israel.  And  I  was  with  thee  whithersoever  thou 
wentest,  and  have  cut  off  all  thine  enemies  out  of  thy 
sight,  and  have  made  thee  a  great  name,  like  unto  the 
name  of  the  great  men  that  are  in  the  earth.  More 
over,  I  will  appoint  a  place  for  my  people  Israel,  and 
will  plant  them,  that  they  may  dwell  in  a  place  of  their 
own,  and  move  no  more;  neither  shall  the  children  of 
wickedness  afflict  them  any  more,  as  before-time,  and  as 
since  the  time  that  I  commanded  judges  to  be  over  my 
people  Israel,  and  have  caused  thee  to  rest  from  all  thine 
enemies.  Also,  the  Lord  telleth  thee,  that  he  will  make 
thee  a  house. 

"And  when  thy  days  be  fulfilled,  and  thou  shalt  sleep 
with  thy  fathers,  I  will  set  up  thy  seed  after  thee,  which 
shall  proceed  out  of  thy  bowels,  and  I  will  establish  his 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      503 

kingdom.  He  shall  build  a  house  for  my  name,  and  I 
will  establish  the  throne  of  his  kingdom  forever.  I  will 
be  his  father,  and  he  shall  be  my  son.  If  he  commit 
iniquity,  I  will  chasten  him  with  the  rod  of  men,  and 
with  the  stripes  of  the  children  of  men.  But  my  mercy 
shall  not  depart  away  from  him,  as  I  took  it  from  Saul, 
whom  I  put  away  before  thee.  And  thine  house  and 
thy  kingdom  shall  be  established  forever  before  thee  : 
thy  throne  shall  be  established  forever." 

"  The  Lord  is  righteous  in  all  that  He  commandeth," 
answered  David.  "  The  Lord  also  hath  showed  me  the 
past  night  that  1  have  been  from  my  youth  a  man  of  war 
and  of  blood,  and  that  it  is  meet  1  should  be  set  aside 
from  building  the  house  to  the  Lord,  which  I  had  in  my 
heart!" 

Soon  after  the  departure  of  his  friend,  the  prophet, 
the  king  left  his  palace  and  went  to  the  Tabernacle  of 
God,  and  kneeling  humbly  before  the  altar  of  incense  in 
the  Holy  Place  with  his  face  towards  the  Vail  which  hid 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  over  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant, 
prayed  and  said  after  this  manner : 

"Who  am  I,  0  Lord  God?  and  what  is  my  house, 
that  thou  hast  brought  me  to  so  great  power  hitherto? 
and  hast  favorably  spoken  of  the  glory  of  my  house  yet 
to  come  ?  Wherefore  thou  art  great,  0  Lord  God :  for 
there  is  none  like  thee,  neither  is  there  any  God  besides 
thee,  according  to  all  that  we  have  heard  with  our  ears  : 
4  Lo,  what  one  nation  in  the  earth  is  like  thy  people,  even 
like  Israel,  whom  God  went  to  redeem  for  a  people  to 
himself,  and  to  make  him  a  name,  and  to  do  for  you 
great  things  and  terrible,  for  thy  land,  before  thy  people, 
which  thou  redeemedst  to  thee  from  Egypt,  from  the  na- 


504  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

tions  and  their  gods?  For  thou  hast  confirmed  to  thy 
self  thy  people  Israel,  to  be  a  people  unto  thee  forever : 
and  thou,  Lord,  art  become  their  God/  And  now,  0 
Lord  God,  the  word  that  thou  hast  spoken  concerning 
thy  servant,  and  concerning  his  house,  establish  it  for 
ever,  and  do  as  thou  hast  said.  And  let  thy  name  be 
magnified  forever,  saying,  The  Lord  of  hosts  is  the  God 
over  Israel :  and  let  the  house  of  thy  servant  David  be 
established  before  thee.  For  thou,  0  Lord  of  hosts,  God 
of  Israel,  hast  revealed  to  thy  servant,  saying,  I  will 
build  thee  a  house:  therefore  hath  thy  servant  found  in 
his  heart  to  pray  this  prayer  unto  thee.  And  now,  0 
Lord  God,  thou  art  that  God,  and  thy  words  be  true, 
and  thou  hast  promised  this  goodness  unto  thy  servant. 
Therefore  now  let  it  please  thee  to  bless  the  house  of  thy 
servant,  that  it  may  continue  forever  before  thee:  for 
thou,  0  Lord  God,  hast  spoken  it ;  and  with  thy  bless 
ing  let  the  house  of  thy  servant  be  blessed  forever." 

This  great  and  wise  king  having  now  acquitted  him 
self  of  the  sacred  duties  which  friendship  and  religion 
claimed  at  his  hand,  and  strong  in  the  favor  of  his  God 
and  the  love  of  his  people,  resolved  to  secure  the  peace 
of  his  realm  by  putting  an  end  forever  to  the  power  of 
his  hereditary  enemies,  the  Philistines,  Amalekites,  Moab- 
ites,  and  other  nations  which  had  for  five  hundred  years 
warred  against  Israel.  Recent  excursions  of  predatory 
bands  upon  his  borders,  which  have  rendered  the  abode 
of  the  Hebrews  along  the  limits  of  his  kingdom  at  all 
times  unsafe,  have  led  him  to  resolve  to  make  this  aggres 
sive  war ;  for  hitherto  the  Hebrews  have  been  defenders 
of  their  land,  not  aggressors.  While  I  write,  the  notes 
of  warlike  preparation  are  heard,  not  only  in  Jerusalem, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      505 

but  in  all  the  kingdom.  It  is  the  intention  of  King  Da 
vid  to  take  the  field  in  person,  and  beard  the  Philistine 
lion  in  his  own  den  at  Gath.  As  I  shall  accompany  the 
army,  your  majesty,  I  shall  not  again  write  to  you  until 
the  war  is  ended. 

I  regret  here  to  inform  thee,  0  Belus,  that  the  beauti 
ful  Michal,  the  daughter  of  Saul,  has  been  disgraced  by 
David,  who  has  refused  again  to  recognize  her  as  his 
queen,  and  has  elevated  the  stately  Abigail  to  that  dis 
tinction.  The  fatality  which  from  the  first  has  hung 
about  Saul's  house,  seems  still  lowering  over  all  his  de 
scendants.  The  cause  of  the  displeasure  of  the  king  her 
husband  was  as  follows  : 

On  the  day  when  the  Ark  was  borne  into  the  city  of 
David,  and  the  monarch  danced  with  solemn  and  measured 
step  before  it,  playing  upon  his  harp,  according  to  a 
form  of  religious  worship,  common  even  with  us  in  As 
syria,  Michal  from  her  palace  window  mocked  him  and 
laughed  aloud,  as  if  he  shamed  his  kingly  rank,  by  ex 
changing  the  royal  apparel  of  a  king,  for  the  white  linen 
ephod  of  a  priest.  Her  excuse,  haughtily  given  and 
with  a  good  deal  of  Saul's  fire,  was  that  she  had  never 
beheld  the  King  of  the  Hebrews  before  in  such  base  ap 
parel,  and  that  she  felt  it  became  not  his  royal  dignity 
to  assume  it ;  that  she  had  never  seen  her  father,  the 
first  king,  think  it  necessary  to  be  so  religious  as  to 
humble  himself  in  that  degrading  way,  and  that  such 
display  became  more  hired  dancers  at  a  festival  and  sing 
ing  women,  than  a  king  ! 

The  king  became  greatly  offended  and  also  grieved  at 
her  wrords,  for  he  perceived  by  them  that  she  was  without 
piety,  and  desuised  the  worship  of  God,  which  in  tho 


506          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

days  of  Saul  had  been  so  much  neglected ;  he  also  learned 
that  it  was  not  until  the  more  reverent  Abigail  com 
mended  the  king's  devout  bearing  before  the  Ark,  that 
Michal  began  to  scorn  him  and  deride. 

Thus,  your  majesty,  the  perverseness  and  jealousy  of 
Saul,  coming  out  in  the  character  of  the  daughter,  has 
been  the  cause  of  her  shame  as  it  was  of  the  father's. 
What  an  illustration  of  the  law  of  God,  that  the  sins  of 
the  fathers  shall  be  visited  upon  their  children !  From 
that  day  David  has  not  entered  the  presence  of  the  per 
verse  and  jealous  woman,  who  publicly  sought  to  bring 
upon  him  ridicule,  while  in  the  accustomed  worship  of 
his  God.  She  is  punished  therefore,  even  like  her 
father,  Saul,  both  for  irreligion  and  for  jealousy. 

The  widow  of  Nabal  is  now,  therefore,  the  first  in  rank 
in  the  palace  as  queen,  and  being  scarcely  less  beautiful 
than  when  David  married  her  among  the  mountains  of 
Carmel,  and  possessing  amiability  and  grace  of  manners, 
she  is  a  great  favorite  with  the  court  and  people,  which 
Michal,  Saul's  daughter,  has  never  been. 

At  length  Ziba  returned,  and  with  him  came  Mephi- 
bosheth,  the  sole  surviving  prince  of  the  unhappy  House 
of  Saul.  I  saw  him  when  he  came  into  the  Hall  of  Jus 
tice,  where  David  sat,  having  just  closed  for  the  day 
the  administration  of  the  cases  brought  before  him.  The 
king  would  not  have  known  him  as  he  drew  near,  but  for 
the  presence  of  Ziba,  which  led  him  to  suspect  who  he 
was ;  for  he  leaned  heavily,  from  his  lameness,  upon  the 
Canaanite  servant's  arm.  He  was  a  slight,  sickly  young 
man,  with  a  short  neck  which  supported  a  large  and  in 
tellectual  head,  developing  the  grand  brows  and  forehead 
of  Saul ;  while  the  mouth  was  singularly  effeminate  and 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  507 

Deautiful.  but  wore  a  fixed,  cynical  smile.  His  face,  pale 
and  prematurely  withered,  was  like  that  of  one  who  sel 
dom  stirred  abroad  in  the  sun  and  air.  He  wap  attired 
richly  and  gaudily  after  the  fashion  of  the  princes  of 
Moab  ;  jewels  sparkled  on  his  wrists  and  breast,  and  he 
wore  rings  of  gold  in  his  ears  like  the  effeminate  Ammo 
nite  lords.  The  expression  of  his  white  and  wilted  face 
was  a  singular  compound  of  scorn  and  deference,  hatred 
and  fear,  as  if  he  respected  the  power  of  David,  and  yet 
felt  that  he  sat  on  a  throne  which  was  justly  his  own 
birthright.  The  arrogance  of  a  dethroned  prince  be 
fore  his  successor,  with  the  humility  of  a  dependent, 
struggled  also  in  his  voice,  as  he  answered  the  king,  who 
said,  kindly,  and  drawing  near  to  him, 

"  Is  this  Mephibosheth,  son  of  Jonathan?" 

"I  am,  0  king,"  he  answered,  making  haughty 
obeisance,  leaning  upon  the  hand  of  Ziba.  u  I  am  come 
in  obedience  to  thy  command!" 

"  Thou  hast  done  well !  Fear  not,  I  have  sent  for 
thee  to  show  thee  kindness,  for  Jonathan  thy  father's 
sake ;  for  I  hear  that  thou  hast  been  dependent  on 
strangers  !" 

The  dark,  Saul-like  eyes  of  the  young  man  flashed  at 
words,  which,  though  kindly  meant,  enkindled  his  anger; 
and  he  looked  as  if  he  would  have  replied,  "Had  I  my 
rightful  inheritance,  0  king,  thou  and  I  would  have 
changed  places,  and  I  should  have  been  seated  in  my 
father's  throne."  But  his  bloodless  lips  ventured  no 
word.  lie  had  from  a  child  been  trained  in  the  disci 
pline  of  exile  and  self-denial,  and  knew  how  to  restrain 
his  feelings,  and  when  to  keep  silence.  The  king,  with 
out  seeming  to  observe  his  looks,  continued  mild'y, 


508  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OB, 

"For  thy  father's  sake,  I  -will  restore  thee  all  the  land 
of  thy  grandfather  Saul  and  all  things  that  thy  father 
possessed.  These  will  enrich  thee !  Also,  thou  shalt 
dwell  with  me  in  my  palace,  and  have  a  seat  at  my  table  as 
long  as  thou  livest !  Ziba  will  look  after  thy  estates,  and 
render  to  thee  his  yearly  accounts ;  and  thou  canst  dwell 
here  in  peace,  and  pursue  such  a  life  as  suits  thy  fragile 
health !" 

At  this  unexpected  kindness  and  generosity  on  the 
part  of  the  king,  the  proud  heart  of  the  exiled  prince 
softened,  his  anger  melted  away,  tears  quenched  the  ire 
ful  fire  of  his  eyes,  and,  with  a  voice  trembling  with 
grateful  emotion,  he  cried, 

"  Thou  art  too  gracious  and  good  to  so  worthless  a 
wanderer  as  thy  servant,  0  king.  I  believed  thou 
wouldst  treat  me  as  if  I  were  a  dog  in  thy  sight,  and  lo ! 
thou  honorest  me  as  a  prince,  giving  me  the  royal  lands 
of  my  father's  house  !" 

"  Ziba,"  said  the  king,  turning  to  the  old  servant  of 
Saul,  "  thou  hast  a  score  of  servants  and  many  sons. 
They  and  thou  shall  be  servants  to  Mephiboshethi" 

"According  to  all  that  my  lord  the  king  commandeth 
thy  servant,  so  shall  thy  servant  do,"  answered  the  gray- 
headed  Canaanite,  making  lowly  obeisance,  after  the 
abject  manner  of  the  men  of  his  race,  before  the  king. 

Since  then,  the  last  Prince  of  the  House  of  Saul  has 
dwelt  in  Jerusalem,  a  guest  in  the  palace  of  the  king,  and 
daily  sits  at  the  king's  table.  He  dresses  with  magnifi 
cence,  and  is  imperative  and  troublesome  in  temper, 
showing  the  irascibility  of  Saul  without  his  courage,  and 
the  vices  of  Ishbosheth  without  his  indolence ;  for  there  is 
nothing  escapes  his  inquisitive  and  jealous  eyes  that  goes 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM       509 

on  in  the  palace  ;  and  while  he  seems  to  be  full  of  grati 
tude  to  the  king,  and  artfully  plays  the  sycophant,  he  is 
evidently  his  secret  and  envious  enemy.  Treachery 
plainly  lurks  in  his  covert  glances  at  David,  who,  honest 
in  purpose  and  knowing  he  ought  to  have  his  gratitude, 
doubts  not  but  that  he  has  it,  and  entreats  him  with  an 
ingenuous  confidence  from  which  all  mistrust  is  absent. 

Tliis  letter  will  go  to  Assyria  by  the  caravan,  which 
leaves  Jericho  next  week.  It  is  to  be  laden  with  rich  pro 
ductions  of  this  bountiful  land,  and  will,  I  doubt  not.  re 
ward  the  king  for  his  wise  policy  in  opening  this  avenue  of 
commerce  with  the  valleys  of  the  Euphrates  and  Tigris. 
Already  caravans  leave  here  for  Syria,  Edom,  Egypt, 
and  Tyre,  and  a  constant  influx  and  reflux  of  these  com 
mercial  waves,  laden  with  the  fruits  of  the  merchandize 
of  those  lands,  have  given  a  new  impetus  to  the  minds  of 
this  hitherto  exclusively  agricultural  people,  and  is  con 
verting  them  into  a  nation  of  merchants ;  while  foreign 
gold  and  silver  flow  into  the  royal  coffers  in  abundance. 

A  few  days  hence,  at  the  head  of  one  hundred  thou 
sand  disciplined  troops,  the  king  moves  forward  against 
the  lealm  of  Philistia.  Upon  the  return  of  the  army, 
I  will  again  write  to  your  majesty.  Farewell. 

Your  friend  and  ambassador, 

AKBACES. 


510  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID:    OR, 


LETTER    XVI. 

ARBACES,  THE  AMBASSADOR, 

To  BELUS,  THE  KINO. 

CITY  OF  DAVID,  MOUNT  ZION. 

IT  is  many  months  since  my  last  epistle  was  written 
to  thee,  0  Belus ;  but  my  long  silence  must  be  attributed 
not  to  the  forgetfulness  of  waning  friendship,  nor  to  the 
neglect  of  my  official  duty,  but  to  the  warlike  and  ab 
sorbing  condition  of  affairs  which  has  existed  the  past 
eight  months. 

My  last  letter  informed  you  that  King  David  was 
about  to  extend  his  arms  in  the  direction  of  the  kingdom 
of  the  Philistines,  who  had  not  ceased  to  annoy  the 
western  borders  of  his  dominions.  The  march  of  the 
Hebrew  army,  after  it  entered  the  land  of  the  Philistines, 
was  one  uninterrupted  series  of  brilliant  conquests. 

Always,  heretofore,  invaders,  the  Philistines  knew  not 
how  to  meet  invasion,  and  so  bold  and  formidable  a 
one  as  now  menaced  them.  Wheresoever  their  armies 
made  a  stand  to  oppose  the  Hebrew  monarch,  they 
were  routed  and  pursued  with  great  slaughter.  One 
after  another  their  towns  fell  into  the  hands  of  David, 
their  idol  temples  were  overthrown  by  his  soldiers,  and 
their  fields  laid  waste.  At  length,  driven  to  their  strong 
hold  and  capital  city,  Gath,  situated  on  the  hitherto  im 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  511 

pregnable  height  of  Ammah,  their  king  assembled  the 
whole  of  his  army  to  make  a  final  stand  against  the  con 
quering  progress  of  the  Hebrew  warrior-king  !  David 
encircled  the  city  with  his  hosts,  and  took  it  with  vast 
slaughter.  The  night  of  the  conquest  thereof  David 
reposed  (how  singular  the  reversion  of  fortunes,  your 
majesty  !)  in  the  palace  of  the  deceased  Achish,  whose 
tomb  he  the  next  day  visited,  commanding  it  to  be  re 
spected  by  his  soldiers  ;  for  once  he  had  received  from 
Achish,  shelter  and  favors  in  his  exile ;  and  David  is  one 
of  that  heroic  and  generous  class  of  men  who  never  forget 
a  personal  kindness.  Gaza  and  all  the  ports  of  Philistia 
soon  fell  into  his  power,  and  he  extended,  thereby,  the 
borders  of  his  kingdom  even  to  the  shores  of  the  Great 
Sea.  All  the  ships  of  Askelon,  Jopha,  and  of  the  port 
by  the  sea  over  against  Gaza,  fell  into  his  hand,  with 
the  mariners  arid  merchandise  thereof.  Having  laid 
tribute  upon  the  King  of  Philistia,  Itta  the  son  of  Achish, 
whom  he  had  taken  prisoner,  and  received  his  homage 
as  his  servant,  and  having  garrisoned  the  sea  ports,  and 
especially  Gath,  the  key  of  the  subdued  kingdom,  David 
returned  with  his  armies  to  Jerusalem,  having  in  three 
months  brought  to  his  feet  a  dominion  nearly  as  large  as 
bis  own,  and  which  had  been  the  terror  of  Israel  since 
the  days  of  Joshua. 

The  sons  of  Anakim,  consisting  of  a  family  of  seventy 
giants  of  both  sexes,  descendants  of  Anak  whom  Joshua 
fought  against,  King  David  put  to  death,  not  leaving  a 
soul  of  the  blood  of  Goliath  alive,  thus  wisely  ending  a 
race  of  giants,  which  has  long  cumbered  this  quarter  of 
the  earth. 

But  he  hart  no  sooner  reached  his  capital  than  he  found 


512  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

a  new  war  upon  his  hands.  The  powerful  King  of 
Edom,  a  descendant  of  the  royal  House  of  Esau  the 
elder  brother  of  Jacob,  and  whose  dominions  lay  south 
of  the  province  of  Judah  around  Mount  Hor,  even 
stretching  beyond  the  sea  of  Sodoma — this  king,  who  in 
herited  hatred  of  the  descendants  of  Jacob  and  his 
twelve  sons,  taking  advantage  of  David's  absence  in 
Philistia,  invaded  Judah  and  menaced  Hebron.  Without 
delay  and  by  forced  marches,  King  David  went  against 
him,  defeated  the  king  in  battle,  and  also  the  King  of 
Moab,  who  assisted  him,  and  taking  their  capital  city, 
brought  both  Moab  and  Edom  into  subjection  to  his 
sceptre,  making  them  tributary  to  his  crown.  Thus  on 
the  west,  his  borders  now  were  extended  to  the  sea,  and 
on  the  south  to  the  desert. 

This  increase  of  dominion  and  power  has  naturally 
aroused  the  fears  of  other  kings.  Talaric,  the  warlike 
Parthian  monarch  of  the  land  of  Palm-Zobah,  whose 
capital  is  Tadmor,  fearing  for  his  own  dominions  on  the 
east,  hath  raised  a  great  army,  saying  to  his  generals, 
"This  Hebrew  shepherd-king  is  becoming  too  powerful 
for  our  safety.  He  hath  laid  one  hand  on  the  sea,  and 
placed  one  foot  on  the  desert.  Lo,  he  will  stretch  him 
self,  and  with  the  other  hand  grasp  the  east,  and  plant 
the  other  foot  on  the  north,  even  upon  the  crown  of 
Syria.  Let  us  go  against  him  and  weaken  his  power, 
and  keep  him  within  his  own  borders !" 

Moreover,  your  majesty,  this  usurper  of  the  throne  of 
Hadadezer,  hath  heard  that  the  true  princess  of  his 
stolen  sceptre  is  in  Judea,  at  the  court  of  David.  Un 
known  to  me,  your  majesty,  I  learn  King  David  sent  a 
message  to  Talaric  three  months  ago,  demanding  the 


THE   REBELLION    OF   PRINCE   ABSALOM.  513 

throne  of  Tadmor  for  its  lawful  princess,  Adora,  daughter 
of  Isrilid !  for  the  king  regards  my  noble  wife  with  the 
most  respectful  friendship ;  and  well  knowing  her  history 
and  her  title  to  the  throne  of  Tadmor,  as  well  as  the  fact 
that  we  no  longer  entertained  any  undue  ambition  to  wield 
its  sceptre,  secretly  sent,  without  consulting  our  pleasure, 
the  message  demanding  its  surrender.  When,  upon 
hearing  of  it,  I  expressed  my  regret,  the  king  smilingly 
answered, 

"  It  is  of  importance  to  my  empire,  0  Arbaces,  that 
in  the  country  between  the  Jordan  and  the  Euphrates,  a 
king  should  rule  who  shall  be  my  friend  and  ally.  This 
Parthian  usurper  of  the  throne  of  the  royal  house  of 
Rehob  of  Tadmor,  will  always  be  a  thorn  in  my  side. 
I,  therefore,  not  only  secure  the  integrity  of  my  borders 
eastward,  by  placing  you  and  your  wife  upon  its  throne, 
if  necessary,  by  the  force  of  arms  ;  but  do  justice  to  the 
claims  of  a  noble  lady,  whom  for  her  own  sake  and  her 
father's  I  greatly  esteem." 

The  Parthian,  therefore,  has  declared  war  against  the 
King  of  the  Hebrews,  not  only  from  fear  that  he  will 
extend  his  conquests  in  the  direction  of  Palm-Zobah,  but 
to  prevent  the  accession  of  Adora  to  the  throne  of  her 
ancestors,  and,  moreover,  resent  the  insult  to  his  crown, 
which  King  David's  demand  implies. 

Already,  your  majesty,  this  Parthian 's  hosts  are  rolling 
along  towards  Jordan  in  an  army  of  one  hundred  thou 
sand  footmen,  twenty  thousand  horsemen,  and  four  thou 
sand  chariots.  To  meet  this  formidable  army,  King 
David  marches  to-morrow  with  one  hundred  arid  twenty 
thousand  foot,  eight  hundred  horse,  and  but  seventy  cha- 
33 


514          THE  THBOXE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

riots,  for  the  laws  of  Moses  forbid  the  Hebrews  multi 
plying  horses  and  chariots  for  their  armies. 

Your  majesty  cannot  long  remain  ignorant  of  the 
march  of  this  formidable  army  of  Talaric,  the  King  of 
Zobah,  who  also  has  taken  the  name  of  Hadadezer,  the 
royal  designation  of  the  former  kings.  It  is  impossible 
for  me  to  remain  behind,  when  King  David,  partly  on 
account  of  Adora's  claim,  advances  to  meet  him  !  Adora 
and  I,  therefore,  join  the  king  at  Jericho  two  days  hence, 
and  advance  with  the  army. 

That  he  will  conquer  I  doubt  not.  The  smile  of  hea 
ven  is  ever  shining  upon  his  arms.  If  he  conquers,  he 
is  resolved  to  place  Adora  upon  the  throne.  Hence  it 
is  not  impossible,  0  Belus,  that  this  letter  (which  I  shall 
place  in  my  tablets  until  I  have  an  opportunity  of  com 
pleting  it  and  sending  it)  may  be  finished  before  the 
walls  of  Tadmor.  or  within  its  royal  palace  itself!  Al 
though  both  Adora  and  myself  have  long  ago  made  up 
our  minds  to  be  contented  to  dwell  near  the  court  of  Da 
vid,  in  our  happy  villa  on  the  side  of  the  Mount  of  Olives; 
yet  I  will  not  deny  that  the  possibility  of  ascending  the 
throne  of  her  fathers  has  aroused  in  the  bosom  of  my 
wife  pleasing  and  new-born  hopes,  which  have  kindled 
into  warmth  my  own  dormant  ambition. 

How  pleasant  would  it  be,  0  Belus,  if  Adora  and  her 
lord  Arbaces  could  rule  a  dominion  protected  on  the  east 
by  thine,  and  on  the  west  by  that  of  King  David  !  Three 
such  kingdoms  united  by  the  bonds  of  amity,  as  they 
would  be,  would  control  the  events  of  nations,  and  hold 
the  balance  of  power  on  earth  !  But  I  am  letting  my 
pen  run  wild  with  ambitious  aspirations,  which  a  few 
weeks  ago  I  would  not  have  believed  existed  within  my 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      515 

breast.  Farewell,  for  a  time.  I  now  roll  up  the  parch 
ment,  deferring  the  conclusion  of  my  letter  to  a  later 
period. 

THE  army  of  the  King  of  the  Hebrews  encountered,  three 
weeks  after  the  above  portion  of  the  letter  of  Prince  Arbaces  was 
written,  the  hosts  of  the  King  of  Zobah  in  the  desert,  and  over 
threw  him  ;  pursuing  him  for  three  days  with  great  slaughter. 
and  taking,  besides  great  spoils,  a  thousand  chariots*  armed 
with  scythes,  seven  hundred  Parthian  horsemen,  who  carried 
bows  of  steel,  and  twenty  thousand  footmen.  He  then  laid 
siege  to  Tadmor,  within  which  Talaric  fled,  and  taking  it.  aftei 
a  month's  siege,  by  assault,  he  extended  the  borders  of  his 
kingdom  even  to  the  banks  of  the  Upper  Euphrates. 

Adora,  the  daughter  of  Isriiid,  was  duly  placed  by  the  con 
queror  in  possession  of  the  throne  of  her  ancestors,  and  Prince 
Arbaces  was  crowned  king-consort  by  her  side.  In  the  midst 
of  the  festivities  with  which  this  event  was  celebrated,  the 
King  of  Damascus,  who  had  entered  into  league  with  the  King 
of  Zobah  to  check  the  power  of  the  King  of  the  Hebrews,  was 
advancing  to  his  aid.  when  he  met  the  defeated  monarch  Tala 
ric,  attended  by  a  few  wearied  horsemen,  flying  to  seek  shelter 
in  his  dominions. 

The  sight  of  this  great  Syrian  army,  so  near  his  late  capital, 
inspiring  the  Parthian  Prince  with  a  hope  of  recovering  his 
throne,  he  prevailed  upon  Haclad.  King  of  Damascus,  to  return 
with  him  to  aid  him  in  regaining  his  capital.  The  Syrian 
monarch  yielded  to  his  importunities.  From  the  walls  of  Tad 
mor.  the  Hebrew  warrior-king  beheld  the  advancing  hosts  of 
Syria,  and  marched  out  to  offer  Hadad  battle.  The  terrible 
contest  coiitinued  throughout  the  day  and  all  the  night,  and  the 
Syrians,  defeated,  fled,  leaving  two  and  twenty  thousand  men 
dead  on  the  plain,  with  chariots  and  horsemen  overthrown  with 
out  number. 

Leaving  Arbaces  and  Adora  securely  seated  on  the  throne 
of  Palm-Zobah.  King  David  re-crossed  the  desert  westward 
into  Syria,  and  made  a  thorough  conquest  of  the  kingdom  of 

*  2  Samuel,  rliap.  viii.  3.  4. 


516  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

Hadad,  besieging  and  taking  his  brilliant  capital  of  Damascus 
on  the  rivers  Arbana  and  Pharpar.  Leaving  garrisons  therein, 
and  receiving  the  submission  of  all  the  towns  and  citadels  of 
Syria,  he  returned  to  Jerusalem,  having  achieved  the  greatest 
victories  of  the  age,  and  added  to  his  dominions  four  kingdoms ; 
not  including  that  of  Tadmor  of  Zobah,  which  he  declared  a 
free  crown,  having  sealed  with  Arbaces  a  permanent  league  of 
friendship. 

The  noble  river  Euphrates  now  bounded  his  kingdom  on  the 
east ;  the  north  was  defended  against  the  Barbarians  by  his 
fortresses  of  Syria ;  and  also  by  Tyre,  the  dominion  of  his 
friend,  the  virtuous  and  wise  King  Hiram.  On  the  south,  he 
held  military  possession  of  Idumea,  Moab,  and  Philistia; 
while  on  the  west  he  touched  the  shores  of  the  Middle  Sea : 
thus  Lebanon,  Egypt,  the  Euphrates,  and  the  Mediterranean 
were  the  magnificent  limits  of  his  vast  empire. 

The  following  year,  a  son  of  one  of  the  kings  of  Ammon  in 
the  East,  whose  father  had  shown  him  friendship  on  his  march 
to  Tadmor,  having  ascended  the  throne  of  the  Ammonites, 
King  David  kindly  sent  ambassadors  to  congratulate  him.  The 
jealous  prince,  suspecting  them  to  be  spies,  shaved  their  beards 
as  a  mark  of  contempt,  cut  off  the  skirts  of  their  robes,  and 
sent  them  back  to  Jerusalem.  David  was  not  a  monarch  to 
bear  with  equanimity  an  outrage  so  great  as  this.  He  sent 
Joab  with  an  army,  and,  defeating  their  insolent  young  king 
reduced  him  to  the  level  of  a  tributary  prince. 

The  Syrians  now  secretly  raised  an  army  to  drive  out  the 
Hebrews  from  their  dominions,  and  David,  hearing  that  a  great 
host  of  foot,  chariots,  and  horsemen  were  assembled  to  overturn 
his  power,  took  the  field  in  person,  conquered  them,  and  made 
many  thousand  prisoners,  besides  capturing  seven  thousand  cha 
riots  ;  while  thousands  of  horses  taken  by  him,  he  commanded 
to  be  put  to  death  according  to  the  law  of  Moses,  which  law 
was  ordained  to  prevent  the  Hebrews  from  engaging  in  foreign 
wars,  that  they  might  become  a  domestic  and  defensive  power. 
King  David  had,  in  his  army  of  the  East,  a  battalion  of  cha 
riots  and  four  legions  of  horse  of  six  thousand  men  each  ;  but 
this  was  a  temporary  setting  aside  of  the  law  bv  hiir  in  order 


• 
THE  REBELLION  CF  PRINCE  ABSALOM      517 

to  meet  upon  an  equality  foes  similarly  organized  and 
mounted. 

Returned  from  his  second  war  against  the  Syrians,  the  soldier- 
king  now  gave  his  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the  arts  of  peace 
The  sword  was  turned  into  the  ploughshare,  and  the  spear  into 
the  pruning-hook.  Unexampled  prosperity  reigned  throughout 
his  wide  dominions,  and  his  court  was  distinguished  for  its 
splendor  and  dignity.  Marrying  Maacah,  the  beautiful  daugh 
ter  of  the  Syrian  Prince  Tolmai,  he  cemented  peace  with  this 
dangerous  tributary  monarch.  All  eminent  men  sought  Jeru 
salem  ;  and  here  were  founded  schools,  and  seats  of  learning, 
and  academies  of  science  ;  and  from  every  land,  men  who  were 
the  most  famous  in  their  own  country  in  any  art,  flocked  to  the 
Court  of  David.  Thus  his  capital  became  the  centre  of  all  that 
gives  glory  to  a  monarch,  or  illustrates  the  genius  of  the  age. 
From  farther  Tnd,  from  Tarshish  in  Ceylona  of  the  East,  from 
Ophir,  the  land  of  gold,  and  the  isles  of  the  sea,  from  Grecia, 
and  Etruria,  and  Cyprus,  and  Iberia,  came  philosophers,  poets, 
historians,  astrologers,  magicians,  and  painters  on  wood  and 
papyrus,  and  workers  in  gold  and  silver,  and  polishers  of 
precious  stones,  and  artificers  of  all  sorts  to  sit  under  the 
shadow  of  the  throne  of  David,  and  share  the  bountiful  re 
wards  which  he  bestowed  on  all  who  conferred  glory  upon  his 
empire. 

More  than  twenty  years  elapsed  ^  unparalleled  prosperity 
and  regal  grandeur.  His  wisdom,  prowess,  wealth,  and  com 
manding  personal  influence  had  placed  his  kingdom  in  the 
foremost  rank  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Not  Assyria, 
nor  Egypt  surpassed  Judea  in  power,  and  glory,  and  breadth 
of  dominion.  First  of  nionarchs  of  the  earth,  all  other 
kings  did  him  willing  reverence  and  eagerly  sought  his  alliance. 
Embassies  from  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth,  which  were  a 
year  on  their  way,  presented  themselves  at  his  court,  bringing 
gifts  and  letters  of  respectful  homage.  His  wealth  was  un 
bounded,  so  that  it  was  said,  "  Gold  in  Jerusalem  is  as  plenty 
as  iron  in  Syria."  The  powerful  monarch  had  also  strengthened 
his  throne  by  alliances  of  marriage  with  the  Houses  of  the 


518  THE    TIIllONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

Princes  of  the  nations  about  him,  so  that  every  king  of  his 
tributary  kingdom  had  a  daughter  married  to  the  powerful  mon 
arch  of  Judea. 

At  length,  a  cloud,  at  first  no  bigger  than  a  vulture  in  the 
Bky,  darkened  the  horizon  of  his  dominions,  concealing  thun 
ders  and  lightnings,  which  were  from  time  to  time  to  flash  their 
angry  fires,  and  mutter  their  condemning  voices  against  his 
throne.  Seated  at  the  head  of  earthly  empire,  the  proud  and 
prosperous  monarch  lost  sight  of  God  above,  and  his  dependence 
'  upon  Him.  Allured  by  pleasure,  he  neglected  the  Sanctuary, 
and  gratitude  ceased  to  bend  his  knee,  for  he  had  all  that  the 
heart  of  man  could  wish  for ;  and  piety  no  longer  lifted  his 
hands  in  prayer,  for  he  felt  himself  sufficient  in  himself  with 
out  God !  He  had  nothing  to  ask  of  Heaven,  and  ceased  to 
ask  !  Thankfulness  lives  on  a  sense  of  need  ;  but  he  believed 
he  had  no  needs,  and  required  nothing  more  of  God,  and  ceased 
to  be  thankful !  In  the  splendid  king  he  forgot  the  humble 
shepherd;  and  the  virtues,  which  were  cherished  as  fine  gold 
by  the  youthful  "  son  of  Jesse"  in  the  wilderness,  were 
disdained  by  the  successful  king  on  his  throne  !  The  heart 
of  David  was  wholly  changed ;  and  though  he  chanted 
magnificent  hymns  to  God  on  festal  days  before  the  people,  it 
was  from  his  passion  for  psaltery  and  singing,  and  not  from 
piety. 

When  God  is  forgotten,  He  withdraws  his  presence !  The 
void  is  soon  filled  by  the  enemy  of  man,  and  the  heart  is  ex 
posed  to  every  temptation  !  The  Spirit  of  God  departed  from 
Saul  ibr  disobedience;  but  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  was  driven 
from  the  heart  of  David  by  pleasure.  His  palace  became 
a  paradise  of  luxury  and  delights.  Singing  men  and  singing 
women  played  and  danced  before  him :  and  he  introduced  into 
his  house  forbidden  entertainments  from  the  dissolute  courts 
of  the  pagan  kings.  Beautiful  slaves  ministered  to  the  intoxi 
cation  of  his  senses,  and  all  the  arts  of  refinement  of  pleasure 
were  sought  for  and  introduced  before  him,  to  enhance  the  luxu 
ries  of  his  hours.  The  stern  warrior  had  gradually  become  a 
voluptuary ;  and  the  righteous  sword  of  the  soldier  gave  way 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      519 

to  the  gold-inlaid  harp  and  dulcimer  !  New  delights  were  in 
vented  by  his  sycophants,  and  new  fountains  of  enjoyment  were 
opened  for  him  by  his  base  and  foreign-born  courtiers.  He 
permitted  the  gods  of  the  heathen  princesses  he  had  married 
to  be  set  up  in  their  chambers,  and  incense  to  be  burned  before 
them  by  their  own  idolatrous  priests. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  sacrifices  burned  morning  and  evening 
upon  the  Altar  of  Jehovah  in  the  Court  of  the  Tabernacle,  and 
incense  to  the  God  of  Israel  ascended  continually  from  the 
Bacred  censers  of  the  Priests.  Perhaps  the  cloud  which  ever 
climbed  towards  heaven  from  the  Altar  of  Burnt-ofiering,  and 
the  ever  upward-rising  holy  incense  of  God  (the  fragrance  of 
which  entered  the  windows  of  his  palace)  interposed  like  a  con 
tinual  national  supplication  between  the  anger  of  Heaven  and 
the  head  of  the  royal  voluptuary. 

Sons  and  daughters  from  time  to  time  were  born  to  him ;  of 
whom  were  Absalom,  son  of  the  daughter  of  KiugTolmai  of  Syria, 
Tamar,  his  sister,  and  her  half  brother,  Ammou,  and  others, 
who  imitated  the  luxurious  life  of  the  king,  and  rebelled  against 
his  authority  when  he  would  reprove  them;  for  fathers,  who 
would  have  their  children  virtuous,  must  first  set  them  the 
example  of  virtue  ;  for  their  example  is  more  powerful  than 
counsel. 

At  length,  one  morning,  there  arrived  at  the  court  of  David 
a  foreign-looking  young  man  with  a  noble  air  and  in  fine  apparel, 
and  with  those  large  Oriental  eyes  which  betray  the  inhabitant 
of  the  East.  He  was  richly  armed,  and  rode  a  superb  Persian 
horse,  the  housings  thereon  heavy  with  gold  and  glittering  with 
precious  stones.  He  was  attended  by  a  train  of  servants,  and 
lords,  and  captains,  with  a  retinue  of  one  hundred  splendidly 
armed  men. 

They  were  from  the  city  of  Tadmor,  and  the  young  man 
proved  to  be  a  prince,  the  youngest  of  three  sons  of  Arbaces 
and  Adora ;  and  who  had  been  sent  by  them  to  pass  a  few 
3'ears  at  the  court  of  David,  to  learn  the  art  of  arms  and  of  let 
ters  under  so  great  a  captain  and  wise  a  monarch. 

The  king  received   the  youthful  Hadad  Isrilid  with    great 


520  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

affection  for  his  father's  sake,  and  at  once  established  him  as  his 
favored  guest  in  his  own  palace.  The  reader  is  referred,  for  the 
further  progress  of  the  narrative  of  the  reign  of  David,  to  tho 
correspondence  of  Prince  Hadad  with  his  mother,  Adora,  Queen 
of  Tadmor. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      52 J 


LETTER    XVII. 

THE  PRINCE  HADAD, 

To  ADORA  HIS  MOTHER,  QUEEN  or  TADMOB, 

COURT  OF  DAVID,  JERUSALEM. 
MY  DEAR  AND  ROYAL  MOTHER, 

I  KNOW  how  impatient  you  will  be  to  receive  early 
intelligence  of  my  arrival  in  Judea,  and  I  hasten  to  write 
to  you  assuring  you  of  my  safety  and  health.  Say  to 
my  dear  father  that  we  were  but  nine  days  on  our  journey, 
which  we  shortened  by  leaving  Damascus  far  to  the 
right,  and  crossing  the  Jordan  near  the  foot  of  Mount 
Tabor. 

With  what  emotion  did  I  traverse  with  my  retinue,  the 
field  of  Gilboa,  where  King  Saul  fell;  the  very  place 
being  pointed  out  to  me  by  a  herdsman,  who  was  watch 
ing  his  herds  on  the  side  of  the  mountain  of  Gilboa ! 

O 

The  beauty  of  the  country,  and  its  wonderful  fertility 
from  thence  to  Jerusalem,  was  a  constant  theme  of  won 
der  to  my  escort.  The  faithful  and  good  Ninus,  who  had 
already  long  been  familiar  with  these  scenes,  enjoyed  my 
pleasure ;  and  said  that  my  dear  father  experienced  equal 
gratification  and  surprise  at  the  rich  green  valleys,  vine- 
clad  hills,  countless  snow-white  villages,  numerous  warlike 
citadels,  and  noble  towns  which  he  passed  on  his  route  to 
Hebron  from  Jericho — your  own  city,  my  mother. 


522  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

At  length  we  came  in  sight  of  the  city  of  David,  which, 
partly  palace  and  partly  fortress,  towers  loftily  above 
Jerusalem,  and  is  visible  far  and  wide.  Our  entrance 
into  the  city  attracted  no  little  attention ;  although  the 
numerous  embassies  from  all  lands,  which  visit  the  court 
of  David,  have  made  the  dress  and  aspect  of  foreigners 
familiar  to  the  eyes  of  the  Hebrews. 

My  reception  by  the  king  was  as  cordial  and  warm  as 
if  I  had  been  his  own  son.  He  was  taken,  at  first,  by 
surprise,  as  he  had  not  expected  me  for  some  weeks.  He 
made  the  kindest  inquiries  after  you  and  my  dear  father, 
and  expressed  the  sincerest  regard  and  friendship  for 
you  both ;  and  desired  me,  when  I  wrote,  to  convey  his 
friendly  greetings,  and  to  say  that  I  so  resembled  you 
both,  that  he  should  extend  to  me  twofold  regard  for  my 
parents'  sake. 

I  am  now  a  guest  in  his  palace,  with  my  own  servants, 
and  feel  almost  as  much  at  home  as  in  your  royal  house 
at  Tadmor.  I  take  delight  in  contemplating  the  scenes 
which  you  and  my  father  have  visited,  and  it  was  with 
mingled  joy  and  sadness  I  entered  the  chamber  which 
my  father  occupied,  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  in  the  old 
wing  of  the  king's  palace. 

You  desired  me  to  describe  the  appearance  of  the  king. 
He  looks  nearly  sixty  years  of  age,  with  a  florid  face  and 
silvery  locks,  and  is  the  most  beautiful  old  man  I  ever 
beheld,  retaining  still  all  his  martial  dignity  of  bearing, 
softened  by  the  gracious  majesty  of  the  courteous  king. 
His  eyes  are  singularly  expressive  of  tenderness  and 
gentleness,  and  his  pleasant  voice,  the  beauty  of  the 
tones  of  which  my  father  has  often  spoken  of,  it  is  de 
lightful  to  hear.  It  is  richer  than  a  harp,  softer  than 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PK1XCL  ABSALOM.      5-3 

the  notes  of  a  dulcimer;  yet  beneath  its  music  reposes 
the  warlike  trumpet-tone,  which  it  requires  only  the 
field  and  the  foe  to  make  ring  as  of  old.  He  attached 
me  at  once  to  himself,  and  the  deferential  affection,  with 
which  I  involuntarily  treat  him,  greatly  pleases  him. 

The  state  of  his  court  is  in  keeping  with  the  dignity 
of  so  great  a  monarch.  I  will  not  attempt  adequately 
to  describe  it.  Yesterday  I  saw  him  holding  a  royal 
court  for  the  reception  of  an  ambassador  from  Seba. 

He  was  seated  in  his  magnificent  throne-room,  upon  a 
chair  of  ivory  over-arched  by  a  canopy  of  cloth  of  gold. 
On  each  side  of  him  stood  two  beardless  Idumean  eunuchs, 
waving  above  him  fans  of  gorgeous  feathers.  On  the 
lower  step  of  his  throne  stood  his  cup-bearer,  the  young 
Prince  Absalom,  a  youth  of  wonderful  beauty  of  face  and 
person,  with  flowing  locks  of  hair  covering  his  shoulders 
like  a  glorious,  shining  mantle.  He  was  not  more  than 
seventeen  years  of  age.  I  was  presented  to  him  the  first 
day  of  my  arrival,  and  the  amiability  of  his  manners 
quite  won  my  heart.  His  attire  was  the  most  magnifi 
cent  I  ever  beheld ;  and  was  so  becoming  that  he  looked 
like  some  brilliant  and  beautiful  god,  rather  than  a 
creature  of  earth.  Near  him  were  the  other  princes 
of  the  house  of  the  king,  and  the  artful  Jonadab  his 
nephew. 

On  the  right  of  the  king  stood  his  Prime  Minister, 
Ahithophel,  a  noble  and  elegant  prince,  with  shining 
silvery  hair,  and  a  face  full  of  intellect  and  intelligence. 
My  father  will  recollect  him  as  one  of  the  earliest  com 
panions  of  the  king  in  his  youth,  and  then  distinguished 
for  his  acute  mind  and  profound  diplomacy,  talents  which 
in  his  maturer  years  eminently  distinguish  him.  In  his 


524  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

crimson  robe  of  office,  his  gold  embroidered  vesture,  his 
coroneted  cap,  and  gold-headed  wand  of  office,  together 
with  the  singular  dignity  of  his  person,  he  looks  like  a 
king  himself;  and  it  is  said  that  David  yields  much  to  his 
counsel,  and  commits  the  chief  weight  of  government 
into  his  hand. 

Next  to  the  Prime  Minister  stood  Hushai,  the  Archite, 
and  Lord  of  the  Treasury,  a  noble  old  man  whose  face 
showed  an  honesty  of  purpose,  singularly  in  contrast 
with  the  politic  looks  of  the  Prime  Minister.  Next  to 
him  was  Jehosaphat,  the  Chancellor  and  Recorder  of  the 
kingdom.  A  little  in  advance  of  the  venerable  Archite 
stood  the  famous  warrior  and  General  of  all  the  armies 
of  Israel,  Joab,  whom  my  father  has  so  often  spoken  of. 
Tall,  almost  gigantic  in  height,  his  iron-gray  head  covered 
with  a  helmet  of  steel,  his  rough  white  beard  trimmed 
closely  to  his  chin,  while  the  mustache  of  his  upper  lip 
stood  in  long,  stiff  brushes  from  ear  to  ear,  a  man  with 
a  ferocious  countenance,  covered  with  battle  scars,  he 
looked  dark,  stern,  silent,  disdaining  the  elegancies  of 
military  costume  which  characterized  several  of  his  offi 
cers  who  were  about  him.  Seriah,  the  Secretary  of  State 
and  Chief  Scribe  of  the  kingdom,  stood  by  with  his  secreta 
ries  to  record  the  proceedings.  Farther  on  in  front,  a  little 
to  the  sides,  stood  the  ambassadors  from  other  monarchs, 
tributary  princes,  and  high  officers  of  the  court,  and  gover 
nors,  and  lords  of  provinces,  a  brilliant  assembly  !  On  the 
right  and  left  of  the  throne,  in  mitred  chairs  of  state,  sat 
the  distinguished  ecclesiastics,  Abiathar,  the  High  Priest, 
and  Zadoc,  the  Chief  Priest,  the  only  two  dignitaries  who 
are  permitted  to  be  seated  in  the  presence  of  the  king  on 
such  a  state  occasion  as  this  of  which  I  speak.  Farther 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  525 

on  from  the  throne  towards  the  entrance,  stood  persons 
of  less  dignity,  motionless,  in  two  lines,  facing  the  throne, 
with  depressed  eye-lids  and  their  hands  crossed  upon  the 
breast.  At  the  great  entrance  stood  Uriah,  the  Cap 
tain  of  the  palace-guards,  mailed  in  gold-armor,  and 
keeping  ward  with  his  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  and  one 
hundred  men  of  Cherith  and  of  Peleth,  gigantic  archers, 
with  Benaiah  their  Captain  of  the  royal  guard.  Fifty 
tall  men  of  Dan,  armed  with  javelins,  in  brazen  helmets 
and  steel  corslets,  were  drawn  up  by  the  gate.  Seated 
upon  his  superb  throne,  the  king  holds  in  his  hand  a  tall 
sceptre,  crowned  with  a  sphere  set  with  rubies,  upon 
which  reposes  a  golden  lion,  the  symbol  of  the  king  and 
his  royal  House.  Prince  Mephibosheth,  who  is  now  quite 
gray,  was  not  present,  his  infirmity  and  sensitiveness 
thereupon  keeping  him  much  secluded  within.  He  is  a 
man  both  feared  and  shunned  for  his  bitterness,  and  his 
jealousy  of  all  whom  the  king  honors. 

Besides  the  state  days,  when  the  whole  court  is  assem 
bled,  the  king  passes  a  portion  of  every  morning  in  his  mag 
nificently  decorated  Audience-hall,  or  Judgment-cham 
ber,  which  is  open  to  all  who  wish  to  enter  and  approach 
his  royal  majesty;  and  here  he  sits  to  decide  in  person 
those  cases  which,  by  appeal  from  the  courts  of  the  gover 
nors  or  senate  of  the  Sanhedrim,  are  brought  to  the  foot 
of  the  throne. 

I  was  present  this  morning  at  such  a  tribunal.  I  then  ob 
served  that  the  beautiful  Prince  Absalom,  who  volunteers 
to  be  his  royal  father's  cup-bearer,  an  honor,  (inasmuch 
as  it  brings  the  person  always  near  the  person  of  the  king,) 
which  many  royal  princes  have  held,  managed  artfully  to 
keep  from  the  throne  such  persons  as  he  did  not  favor 


526          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

while  lie  forwarded  the  prayers  of  those  whom  he  desired 
to  please.  I  perceived  with  surprise  that  the  king  was 
wholly  governed  by  him  in  all  his  suggestions,  and  th.it 
this  young  man,  of  whom  I  have  less  regard  than  at  the 
first,  was  the  idol  of  his  heart.  Upon  speaking  to  Ninus 
upon  this  subject,  he  answered  that  Prince  Absalom  was 
actually  the  power  behind  the  throne,  and  that  the  peo 
ple  of  Israel  had  recently  learned  the  humiliating  lesson 
that  he  who  would  find  favor  with  the  king,  must  pur 
chase  the  good-will  of  this  spoiled,  arrogant,  and  indulged 
young  prince.  If  any  petitioner  approaches  directly  to 
the  monarch,  passing  by  the  prince,  the  king,  before  de 
ciding,  consults  his  young  cup-bearer.  The  decision,  in 
such  cases,  is  always  against  the  prayer  of  the  petitioner, 
for  in  this  way  the  prince  delights  to  punish  and  rebuke 
those  persons  who  presume  to  go  first  to  his  father. 
Whosoever  wishes  to  have  his  prayer  granted  comes 
first  privately  to  the  prince,  and  says  to  him,  "  I  know, 
my  lord,  that  thou  art  first  in  the  kingdom,  and  art  to 
reign  hereafter,  and  that  now  the  king,  thy  father,  doeth 
nothing  without  thee.  I  desire  a  favor  of  the  king  ;  but 
I  come  first  to  thee,  knowing  that  the  power  to  grant  my 
petition  remains  with  thee,  and  whatever  my  lord  the 
prince  decideth  upon  that  the  king  doeth !" 

This  flattery  is  successful,  and  the  prince  is  also 
greatly  enriched  by  the  gratitude  of  the  successful  peti 
tioners.  At  first,  I  was  pleased  with  Absalom,  for  his 
beauty  and  grace  of  manners  and  winning  ways  took  my 
heart  captive ;  but  I  do  not  like  him.  His  character  is 
artful  and  full  of  duplicity.  He  is,  however,  the  idol  of 
the  court,  perhaps,  because  he  is  feared  for  the  terrible 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      527 

power  he  can  command  for  life  or  death.  To  oifend  the 
prince  is  to  embrace  swift  destruction. 

The  splendor  of  the  palace  mocks  description  from  my 
unaccustomed  pen.  It  covers  nearly  half  of  Mount  Zion, 
and  is  a  magnificent  assemblage  of  reception  halls,  por 
ticoes,  corridors,  paved  courts,  of  fountains,  hanging  gar 
dens,  marble  walks.  Ranges  of  painted  chambers,  fifty 
in  number  in  one  wing,  and  thirty  in  another,  are  all 
lined  with  alabaster  or  polished  stones  of  divers  colors, 
and  hun<r  with  embroidered  curtains.  In  the  centre  are 

O 

the  royal,  domestic  residence,  Throne-room,  and  Judg 
ment-hall,  Chamber  of  Ambassadors,  and  Hall  of  Princes; 
all  adorned  by  bright  porticoes  with  brilliantly  colored 
columns ;  while  the  walls  and  ceilings  are  decorated  in 
the  most  elaborate  and  elegant  manner,  with  scrolls, 
flowers,  fruit,  and  wreaths. 

The  Throne-room  itself  is  a  wonder  of  glory  and 
beauty.  The  interior  is  entirely  surrounded  by  slender 
pillars  plated  with  silver,  along  which  trail  artificial 
vines  with  leaves  gemmed  with  emeralds,  and  fruit  glit 
tering  with  rubies  and  sapphires.  The  posts  which  sup 
port  the  canopy  above  the  entrance  are  of  silver,  the 
threshold  is  brazen,  and  the  lintels  silver  inwrought  with 
cedar  and  architravcd  with  gold.  Lions  plated  with 
c;old  stand  on  each  side  of  the  entrance,  while  all  along 
the  walls  to  the  throne  itself,  stand  lesser  thrones  for 
kings,  princes,  and  ambassadors,  over  which  are  dis 
played  the  shields  of  gold  David  took  from  the  Syrian 
King.  Without  the  entrance  gate  lies  a  spacious  garden 
luxuriant  with  many  a  lofty  tree,  among  which  are  the 
Bcarlet  pomegranate,  the  broad-leaved  honeyed  fig,  the 


528  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

golden  pear,  the  bright,  blushing  apple,  and  rich,  brown- 
tinted  olive  with  its  polished  leaves;  while  clustering 
grapes  hang  pendent  over  the  noble  avenues.  Flowers 
of  all  hues,  that  bloom  through  all  the  year,  are  arranged 
along  the  walks  with  graceful  taste,  and  guarded  with 
constant  care ;  while  the  beauty  of  the  lovely  scene  is  en 
hanced  by  seven  welling  fountains,  that  descend  in  bright 
showers  of  liquid  diamonds,  diffusing  delicious  cool 
ness  throughout  the  summer  air.  This  garden  is  the 
Palace  Court,  open  to  all,  and  traversed  by  all  who  ap 
proach  the  king.  Beyond  the  threshold  of  this  noble 
garden  stand  the  tall  towers  occupied  by  the  palace 
guards  ;  and  near  them  the  beautiful  house  of  the  princely 
soldier  Uriah,  the  king's  lord  of  the  palace  and  captain 
of  his  royal  body-guard. 

Farewell,  dear  mother,  I  will  write  you  again  in  a  few 
days.  I  am,  next  week,  to  enter  into  the  military 
school  of  the  Citadel  of  David  to  learn  the  art  of  war ; 
since,  as  a  younger  son,  I  cannot  look  to  the  throne  of 
my  father,  I  can,  at  least,  hope  to  serve  my  country,  by 
and  by,  as  a  leader  of  its  armies. 

Say  to  my  dear  father,  that  many  gray-haired  officers  of 
the  court  of  David  have  inquired  after  his  health  ;  and 
that  many  of  them  honor  me  with  notice  for  his  sake  ; 
especially  Joab,  at  whose  house  in  Bethlehem  my  father 
stayed,  I  believe,  two  months  after  his  return  from 
Egypt.  The  noble  Uriah  has  also  paid  me  great  honor 
for  your  sake,  and  has  desired  me  to  become  his  guest 
to-morrow,  which  I  have  promised  to  do. 

Prince  Absalom,  whose  peculiar,  full-lidded  eyes  be 
tray  his  Syrian  blood,  has  just  called  upon  me,  insisting 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      529 

I  shall  accompany  him  to  Mount  Olive  that  he  may  shov 
me  how  they  hunt  the  gazelle  in  Judea.  I  shall  embrace 
the  opportunity  to  visit  the  villa  situated  there  and  so 
long  your  home. 

Your  faithful  and  affectionate  son, 
HADAD  BEN  ISRILID. 


530  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 


LETTER  XVIII. 

PRINCE  ISRILID  TO  KING  ARBACES. 

THE  COURT  OF  DAVID,  MONTH  TIZRL 

MY  ROYAL  FATHER  : 

A  FEW  weeks  since  I  wrote  my  dear  mother,  inform 
ing  her  of  my  safe  arrival  in  this  sumptuous  capital  of 
the  Hebrews.  I  will  now  not  so  much  send  you  a  letter, 
as  commence  for  your  perusal,  when  I  shall  a  few  years 
hence  return  to  your  court,  the  "Journal  of  Events"  you 
desired  me  to  preserve.  This  tablet  of  Egyptian  papyrus 
leaves,  on  which  I  write,  may  therefore  bear,  besides  this 
present  one,  many  dates'.  In  the  tablets  I  shall  briefly 
write  at  leisure  such  events  as  may  be  interesting  to  you. 
My  residence  here  continues  to  be  more  and  more 
agreeable.  I  am  interested  in  studying  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  people,  reading  their  records,  witnessing 
the  solemnities  of  their  religious  worship,  and  learning 
the  forms  of  this  stately  court ;  moreover,  I  am  not  in 
dolent  in  pursuing  those  military  studies  of  which  Joab 
is  the  great  master,  and  Uriah  one  of  the  most  brilliant 
instructors.  Even  the  king,  whose  soldierly  tastes,  amid 
all  the  luxury  which  environs  him,  are  not  yet  dormant, 
often  enters  the  military  castle,  that  which  is  called  the 
"  Citadel  of  David,"  where  three  hundred  of  the  noblest 
Hebrew  youths,  as  well  as  the  king's  own  sons,  learn  the 


THE    KEBELLION    OF    PRINCE   ABSALOM, 

tactics  and  strategy  of  war,  and  the  use  of  arms.  So 
celebrated  is  this  college  of  war  that  a  son  of  the  King 
of  Tyre,  two  Syrian  princes,  three  sons  of  the  King  of 
Arabia,  and  a  son  of  the  King  of  Cyprus  are  pupils 
herein. 

The  sight  of  the  army  of  King  David  in  review  on  the 
elevated  plane  between  this  and  the  sides  of  Mount  Eph- 
raim  is  a  magnificent  spectacle.  The  main  body  consists 
of  one  hundred  and  forty  and  four  thousand  men,  twelve 
thousand  from  each  tribe,  and  each  tribic  host  armed  and 
mailed  differently,  and  carrying  splendid  standards,  the 
tribes  displaying  thereon  their  peculiar  insignia.  Be 
sides  this  central  army  are  battalions  from  the  cities  and 
towns,  in  vast  numbers,  eight  legions  of  horsemen,  and 
four  thousand  chariots;  troops  of  Moabite  slingers,  of 
Edomite  spearmen,  of  Syrian  bowmen,  of  Ammonite 
lancers,  of  Philistine  swordsmen,  and  a  squadron  of  de 
sert  cavalry,  wild  and  barbaric  riders,  with  spears  twice 
the  length  of  their  horses,  and  whose  steeds  rival  the 
eagle's  flight  in  speed. 

Besides  these  are  the  permanent  garrisons  of  more 
than  one  hundred  border  towns,  and  the  soldiers  who 
hold  the  fortresses  in  the  countries  the  king  has  con 
quered.  The  whole  army  which  the  king  can  bring  into 
the  field  numbers  six  hundred  thousand  fighting  men. 
But,  of  course,  only  a  portion  of  these  for  state  forms 
and  garrisons  remain  in  arms  in  time  of  peace. 

In  my  letter  to  my  mother,  I  informed  her  that  I  had 
been  invited  by  the  princely  courtesy  of  Uriah,  who  is 
regarded  as  the  most  gallant  and  brilliant  officer  in  the 
army  of  the  king,  to  become  his  guest  for  a  day.  1 
have  stated  that  his  palace  is  on  one  side  of  the  king's 


532         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

gardens,  while  that  of  Joab,  the  general-in-chief  of  the 
armies,  stands  on  the  other.  The  palace  of  Uriah  is  as 
distinguished  for  taste  and  elegance  in  all  its  interior 
apartments,  and  by  its  exterior,  as  that  of  the  latter  for 
plainness  and  soldier-like  severity  of  style.  The  rough  old 
warrior  disdains  gardens  and  fountains,  and  gives  up  the 
ground  to  the  exercises  of  his  long-haired  Pelethites  and 
Cherithites  with  their  bows  and  arrows,  slings  and  quoits. 
The  environs  of  the  villa  of  Uriah  are  cultivated  and 
adorned  with  flowers  and  fountains,  shaded  walks,  and 
terraces,  while  in  the  midst  of  the  scene  of  beauty  stand 
white  marble  bathing  basins,  enclosed  by  the  curtains 
of  silken  pavilions. 

Through  these  charming  walks  Uriah  conducted  me  to 
his  mansion.  He  did  me  the  honor  to  present  me  to  his 
wife,  Bathsheba,  who  expressed  a  desire  to  have  me 
brought  into  her  apartment,  as  she  had  seen  both  you 
and  my  mother.  Is  she  not  the  same  whom  David  saw  at 
the  Well  of  Palms,  and  of  whom  Uriah  learned  the  way  he 
took  ?  How  shall  I  give  my  dear  mother  a  description  of 
the  beauty  of  this  noble-looking  lady,  who,  at  forty 
years  of  age,  for  she  does  not  seem  more,  and  is  perhaps 
not  so  old,  is  still  the  most  beautiful  woman,  next  to  my 
ever-charming  mother,  I  ever  beheld  !  She  received  me 
with  infinite  grace,  and  asked  me  so  many  questions 
about  my  own  country  that  I  was  soon  at  ease  in  her 
presence. 

After  dinner,  attended  by  her  maidens,  and  accompa 
nied  by  Uriah  and  by  me,  she  walked  in  the  garden,  and 
we  gathered  fruit  and  flowers,  and  looked  at  the  wide  pros 
pect  over  Jerusalem  from  the  terrace.     The  palace  had 
but  just  been  completed,  and  but  a  few  weeks  occupied 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      633 

by  them,  and  they  took,  therefore,  the  more  pride  and 
gratification  in  showing  it  to  strangers. 

TABLET.— LEAF    SECOND. 

We  are  now  just  entering  upon  the  great  Hebrew  fes 
tival  of  which  I  have  heard  you,  my  father,  speak ;  but 
the  arrival  of  which,  as  it  recurs  only  every  fifty  years, 
you  did  not  witness  while  you  were  in  Judea.  Their 
sacred  number,  seven,  applied  to  years,  makes  a  week 
of  years,  and  this  week  of  seven  years  (instead  of  days) 
long  is  again  multiplied  by  seven,  making  forty-nine 
years,  or  one  year,  striking  out  the  secular  days,  wholly 
made  up  of  Sabbaths.  This  forty-ninth  year  is  cele 
brated  by  suspension  of  all  agricultural  labor,  and  kept 
as  a  Sabbath  of  rest.  During  the  whole  year,  no  one 
either  sows  or  reaps,  but  all  are  satisfied  with  what  the 
earth  and  trees  produce  spontaneously. 

Nor  is  this  the  only  remarkable  feature  of  this  half- 
century  festival.  Every  man  who  has  sold,  or  mort 
gaged,  or  in  any  way  alienated  his  landed  patrimony,  this 
year  resumes  possession  of  it,  the  holder  cheerfully  re 
signing  it,  having,  of  course,  in  the  transaction  by  which 
it  fell  into  his  hands  calculated  for  the  jubilee  restora 
tion  thereof;  hence,  neither  loss  nor  injustice  is  received 
by  him.  All  persons  held  in  bondage  are  also  set  free 
with  their  wives  and  children. 

This  extraordinary  law  of  the  land  coming  into  opera 
tion  produces  all  at  once  an  extraordinary  condition  of 
things.  The  whole  kingdom  is  suddenly  thrown  into  a 
state  of  excitement  and  motion.  Years  of  poverty  and 
struggle  end  in  a  night,  and  the  houseless  reoccapy  the 
homes  of  their  fathers,  the  landless  become  possessors 


534         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

of  noble  estates,  and  universal  joy  prevails.  The  varied, 
touching,  and  joyful  scenes  which  occur  every  hour  for 
the  first  few  days  are  deeply  interesting. 

The  first  nine  days  are  spent  in  a  round  of  festivities. 
Every  body  congratulates  every  body,  and  gifts  are  in 
terchanged,  old  feuds  healed,  and  forgivenesses  and  recon 
ciliation  are  the  rule  of  the  day.  These  first  nine  days 
no  manner  of  work  is  done,  even  within  doors,  and  every 
one  you  meet  is  crowned  with  leaves  or  flowers,  and 
arrayed  in  festal  attire,  while  chants  and  songs  fill  the 
air. 

On  the  tenth  morning  I  was  awakened  by  the  loud 
peal  of  the  trumpets  of  the  seventy  priests,  who  stand 
in  the  court  of  the  tabernacle,  and  which  the  prince  of 
the  Senate  of  the  Sanhedrim  ordered  to  be  sounded,  it 
being  the  legal  signal  for  all  slaves  to  resume  their  free 
dom  without  further  form,  and  all  lands  to  revert  to  their 
hereditary  owners. 

"  This  law  was  mercifully  designed,"  said  the  king  to 
me,  "  to  prevent  the  rich  from  oppressing  the  poor,  and 
any  one  person  from  becoming  too  rich  in  lands  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  natural  tillers  of  the  soil ;  to  put  a  bar 
to  the  too  great  multiplication  of  debts,  and  to  prevent 
perpetual  bondage  among  brethren  of  one  blood." 

Without  doubt,  dear  father,  this  is  a  law  which  could 
only  have  originated  from  a  wise  and  benevolent  God ! 
It  preserves  the  liberty  of  the  persons  of  the  Israelites, 
(who  can  be  sold  for  debt,)  conserves  a  due  equality  of 
fortunes,  arid  re-establishes  the  hereditary  order  of  fami 
lies  as  they  stood  in  the  days  of  Joshua. 

There  is  also  a  lesser  festival  every  seven  years,  called 
the  Sabbatical  year,  or  "week  of  years."  On  this  year 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      535 

a  certain  class  of  bondmen  are  released  from  obedience 
to  their  masters,  and  a  certain  portion  of  property  re 
verts  to  those  who  have  alienated  it.  The  Sabbatical 
year,  at  its  close,  annuls  debts  of  money  between  man 
and  man,  which  the  Jubilee  year  does  not.  Cautious 
rich  men,  this  year,  seldom  loan  to  those  who  ask,  unless 
fully  protected  against  the  statute  of  limitation  obtain- 
ing  during  the  year.  Houses  in  walled  towns  built  within 
the  Jubilee  period  do  not  return  to  those  who  have  mort 
gaged  or  sold  them,  the  statute  having  reference  prima 
rily  to  the  reversion  of  lands,  in  order  to  restore  the 
integrity  of  their  original  division  between  the  tribes 
and  families. 

"  The  appointment  of  the  Sabbatical  year,"  replied 
the  intelligent  Prophet  Nathan  to  me  when  I  inquired 
its  object,  "was  to  preserve  the  remembrance  of  the 
creation  of  the  world  in  six  periods,  followed  by  an  equal 
period  of  rest.  Then  God  gave  six  periods  of  time  to 
the  earth  and  man,  and  one  to  Himself  for  repose.  lie 
now  gives  man  six  periods  for  himself,  but  demands  one 
aqually  long  set  apart  for  His  honor,  and  in  remembrance 
of  the  first  period  of  rest.  These  periods  are  '  years' 
in  the  Sabbatical  week,  and  '  weeks  of  years'  in  the 
Jubilee  week  ;  and  a  week  of  Jubilees  must  be,  therefore, 
about  three  hundred  and  forty-three  solar  years.  Thus 
we  cannot  learn  how  long  was  the  first  period  of  crea 
tion  and  rest,  called  a  week  ;  for  God  makes  '  weeks  of 
years,'  and  'years  of  years!'  With  Him  a  day  is  as  a 
thousand  years,  and  a  thousand  years  is  as  one  day. 
There  exists  a  record  in  our  ancient  writings  which 
states  that  the  first  '  day'  consisted  of  a  week  of  solar 
years,  or  two  thousand  and  five  hundred  and  fifty-five 


536  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

years,  and  that  this  was  the  length  of  the  first  Sabbath. 
A  week  of  these  weeks  of  creation  will  comprise,  accord 
ing  to  the  Rabbinical  books,  seventeen  thousand  years, 
at  which  time  the  world,  they  say,  will  end,  and  a  new 
order  of  things,  with  a  new  circle  of  ages,  begin.  If  this 
prediction  and  this  calculation  be  true,  we  are  now  only 
in  the  second  day  of  this  great  week  of  time !" 

TABLET.— LEAP  THIRD. 

It  is  three  months,  my  dear  father,  since  1  have  looked 
at  my  Tablets  or  made  any  record.  In  the  meanwhile  1 
have  received  my  dear  mother's  letter.  I  will  proceed 
briefly  to  answer  her  inquiries  about  the  ladies  of  the 
palace,  whom  she  once  knew. 

The  deposed  Princess  Michal,  Saul's  daughter,  I  ought, 
before  this,  to  have  informed  you,  died,  ere  I  came  to 
Jerusalem,  in  the  house  of  the  sons  of  Kish,  at  Bethel, 
whither  she  retired  after  David  put  her  away.  Her  de 
clining  years  were  tortured  with  the  sharp  thorns  of 
fallen  pride  and  the  pangs  of  impotent  jealousy.  She 
slowly  wasted  away ;  and,  during  the  last  weeks  of  her 
life,  she  became  lunatic,  and  raved,  and  played  the  queen, 
and,  daily  crowning  herself  with  faded  flowers,  she  be 
lieved  herself  the  ruler  of  Israel,  and  died  calling  upon 
Saul,  her  father,  "  to  avenge  her  upon  the  Shepherd  of 
Jesse !"  It  is  said,  the  king,  grieved  at  her  sad  end, 
gave  her  a  royal,  burial  in  the  tomb  with  Saul  and  Jona 
than. 

The  stately  Abigail  still  lives  in  the  palace,  but  takes 
no  part  in  the  state  pageants,  and  is  seldom  seen.  I 
have  been  presented  to  her.  She  looks  sad  and  broken, 
a  wreck  only  of  the  former  splendor  of  her  beauty.  The 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  537 

other  wives  of  the  king  are  foreign  princesses  ;  each  keep 
ing  her  own  suite  of  apartments,  and  worshiping  her  own 
gods,  and  all  rivaling  and  hating  each  other  ;  each  vainly 
aspiring  to  the  supreme  place  in  the  affections  of  the 
monarch,  which  Queen  Abigail  holds  by  the  slender  and 
daily  fading  tenure  of  her  former  beauty. 

LEAF  FOURTH. 

A  sad  event,  my  dear  father,  has  occurred  since  I  laid 
aside  my  tablets,  almost  a  year  ago.  I  hardly  know 
how  to  record  it.  It  reflects  so  severely  and  darkly  upon 
the  king,  that  I  am  sure  you  will  feel  greatly  distressed ; 
for  I  know  in  what  high  estimation  you  hold  his  private 
as  well  as  his  kingly  character.  It  shows,  however,  that 
"  humanity,"  as  our  Assyrian  proverb  has  it,  "  is  a 
flawed  vase — not  a  perfect  one  can  be  found  on  earth." 
The  golden  vase  of  King  David  has  at  length  betrayed  its 
human  imperfection.  I  have  already  alluded  to  the  volup 
tuous  complexion  of  his  brilliant  and  luxurious  court ; 
and  that  his  departure  from  the  customs  of  his  ancestors 
by  marrying  many  wives,  after  the  manner  of  the  hea 
then  kings,  had  insensibly  broken  down  all  the  barriers 
which  a  previous  life  of  virtue  had  created  about  his 
heart.  The  painful  consequences  of  such  royal  disre 
gard  to  the  integrity  of  his  personal  honor  have  been 
lately  exhibited. 

A  few  weeks  since,  the  tributary  King  of  the  Ammon 
ites,  who  had  been  recently  subdued  and  still  sore  with 
wounded  pride,  came  to  Jerusalem  to  do  homage  to  the 
king,  his  conqueror.  While  here,  he  fancied  himself 
wounded  by  the  imperious  manner  of  Prince  Absalom, 
and  complained  to  the  monarch,  his  father,  of  the  insult. 


538  THE   THROXE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

The  king,  instead  of  rebuking  his  son,  reproved  the  Am 
monite  Prince  for  taking  offence  where  none  could  have 
been  given ;  for  David  can  believe  no  evil  thing  of  the 
youth ;  and  he  who  carries  a  report  to  him  against  him 
will  be  the  only  one  believed  to  be  guilty. 

The  angry  Ammonite  hid  his  indignant  feelings  at  the 
time,  and,  with  fair  outside,  a  day  or  two  afterwards, 
took  leave  of  the  king.  He  had  no  sooner  reached  his 
own  dominions  than  he  secretly  formed  a  league  with 
the  King  of  Syria,  the  King  of  Moab,  and  the  King  of 
Edom,  and  raised  the  standard  of  rebellion.  No  sooner 
did  David  hear  that  the  King  of  Syria  had  joined  him, 
and  that  they  showed  front  of  war,  than  he  despatched 
Joab  with  an  army  against  him.  The  Ammonites,  at  hia 
approach,  treacherously  withdrew  from  the  field,  leaving 
the  Syrians  to  contend  alone  with  the  Hebrew  hosts. 
Uriah,  the  king's  chief  captain,  had  also  joined  the  army 
under  Joab ;  for  David  had  not  spared  even  his  own 
body-guard  in  order  to  visit  the  rebels  with  instant  chas 
tisement. 

A  few  days  after  the  departure  of  the  army,  King 
David  was  walking  upon  the  terrace  of  his  palace,  which 
overlooked  the  beautiful  gardens  of  the  villa  of  Uriah. 
While  he  was  walking  to  and  fro,  impatient  to  hear  news 
from  the  war,  and  often  looking  in  the  direction  of  the 
Jordan,  to  discover  couriers,  his  eyes  fell  upon  the  per 
son  of  the  wife  of  Uriah,  as,  loosely  arrayed  and  unsus 
picious  of  observation,  she  was  leaving  her  bath  in  the 
seclusion  of  her  garden,  attended  by  two  of  her  maidens. 
The  king,  who,  rumor  now  saith,  had  long  envied  his  great 
captain  the  possession  of  his  beautiful  wife,  and  often 
distinguished  her  with  a  place  of  honor  when  he  met  her 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      539 

among  the  ladies  of  his  court,  was,  upon  the  instant, 
seized  with  a  desire  to  make  this  lovely  woman  his  own. 
With  a  king,  to  wish  is  to  will,  and  to  will  is  to  obtain  ! 
Nothing  can  resist  power  and  will  combined  !  The  vir 
tuous  wife  of  the  noble  soldier,  who  was  beyond  Jordan 
fighting,  as  his  general's  armor-bearer,  the  battles  of  his 
king,  leaving  his  honor  in  his  lord's  keeping,  was  despised 
and  dishonored  by  that  lord. 

The  guilty  secret  was  kept  fro^i  every  eye,  even  from 
the  prying  scrutiny,  and  jealous  observing  of  all  things 
else,  of  Prince  Mephibosheth.  But  I  discovered  that  there 
was  some  deep  sorrow  in  the  heart  of  the  wife  of  Uriah, 
who  has  been  ever  my  friend,  for  I  have  continued  to  be 
a  frequent  and  welcome  guest  at  her  house.  I  attributed 
it  to  the  absence  of  her  lord ;  and  strove  to  re-assure  her 
mind  of  his  safety:  but  the  more  I  talked  with  the  noble 
wife,  the  more  sad  and  tearful  she  became.  Little  did  I 
then  suspect  the  wreck  of  honor  and  shame  she  had 
become  through  the  sin  of  one  who  had  forgotten  his 
anointing  of  God  as  Shepherd  of  Bethlehem,  the  fate  of 
Saul,  the  justice  and  vengeance  of  that  terrible  Lord, 
the  history  of  whose  dealings  with  the  Hebrews  from  his 
judgments  against  Moses  and  Aaron  to  those  against 
Ishbosbeth,  show  that  he  winks  at  no  sin,  and  leaves  no 
transgression  of  men  unpunished,  either  in  their  own 
persons  or  in  those  (a  still  more  awful  consideration)  of 
their  children.  At  length,  the  guilt  of  this  king,  natur 
ally  a  righteous  and  religious  man,  and  who  hitherto  had 
firmly  kept  the  laws  of  God,  could  not  much  longer  be 
concealed.  The  war  was  prolonged  three  months,  and 
Uriah  still  remained  absent.  The  king  now  began  to 
reap  the  fruits  of  his  iniquity  by  torture  of  mind  in  de- 


f/40  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

vising  how  to  hide  from  the  world  his  guilt  and  he 
shame;  for  he  was  well  aware  that  when  the  Chief  Priest 
should  hear  thereof,  he  would  assuredly  put  her  to  death 
in  compliance  with  the  letter  of  the  law,  which  ordained 
stoning  to  death  as  the  punishment  for  a  wife  who  dis 
honors  her  lord.  The  king  was  not  so  lost  to  all  gene 
rous  emotions  as  to  risk  exposing  her,  for  whom  he  had 
begun  to  feel  a  profound  attachment,  to  so  cruel  a  fate. 
She  also  eloquently  p^aded  to  him  to  save  her.  There 
was  but  one  way  which  suggested  itself  to  his  mind  to 
protect  her  from  the  law,  which  was,  to  cover  his  crime 
which  was  yet  their  own  secret  ere  it  would  be  open  to 
all  men,  by  the  artful  presence  of  her  husband.  -  He, 
therefore,  sent  a  swift  messenger  to  Joab  in  the  field, 
saying, 

"  Send  me  to  Jerusalem  as  soon  as  this  comes  into  thy 
hand,  Uriah  the  Hittite,  my  faithful  servant ;  for  I  have 
need  of  him." 

When  Joab  read  this  letter  he  showed  it  to  Uriah,  who 
not  pleased  to  be  ordered  home,  on  the  eve  of  an  assault, 
yet  made  no  delay;  but  the  evening  of  the  second  day 
presented  himself,  just  as  he  was  in  his  travel-stained  dress 
and  arms,  before  the  king. 

When  the  monarch  had  carelessly  asked  of  the  brave 
soldier,  he  had  wronged,  with  the  greatest  wrong  one 
man  can  do  to  another  man,  news  of  the  field  and 
learned  that  the  Syrians  were  still  unconquered,  he  said, 

"I  need  thee  here  as  before  in  my  palace.  I  would 
not  have  sent  thee  to  the  wars,  had  I  known  I  should 
have  been  without  thy  services  so  long  as  captain  of  my 
guard.  Go  down  to  thy  house  and  bathe  after  thy 


THE   REBELLION    OF    PRINCE    ABSALOM.  541 

journey,  and  I  will  send  thee  meat  and  wine  from  my 
own  table;  and  in  the  morning  come  to  me." 

The  unsuspecting  Uriah  left  the  king's  presence ;  but 
instead  of  going  down  to  his  house,  met  several  of  his 
military  friends,  and  refreshed  himself  in  the  guard-room 
with  them  and  the  officers  of  the  king's  guard;  and  was 
so  occupied  in  giving  them  an  account  of  the  incidents 
of  the  war,  that  finding  it  quite  late  when  he  rose  to  leave, 
he  said  to  his  friends, 

"I  will  not  disturb  my  house  this  night,  it  is  so  far 
gone,  but  sleep  here  on  a  soldier's  couch,  as  becomes  a 
man  of  war." 

The  next  morning  King  David  having  inquired  and 
learned  that  his  victim  had  not  gone  down  to  his  house, 
but  slept,  instead,  in  his  room  in  the  guard-tower,  he 
sent  for  him  and  said  to  him  sternly  and  yet  coloring  with 
apprehension,  lest  the  husband  suspected  the  truth  and 
his  motive: 

"Why  didst  thou  not  go  down  unto  thine  house,  arid 
gladden  thy  wife  with  thy  safety  and  presence,  and  all 
thy  house?" 

"My  lord,"  answered  the  stout  soldier,  "the  Ark  of 
God  dwelleth  in  a  tent  of  curtains ;  and  the  armies  of 
Israel  and  Judah  beyond  Jordan  I  left  abiding  in  tents; 
and  my  lord,  Joab,  and  his  guard  of  soldiers  were  en 
camped,  two  nights  ago,  in  the  open  field !  Shall  I  then, 
0  king,  go  down  into  my  house  to  my  wife,  and  eat  and 
drink,  and  live  luxuriously  and  at  ease?  Not  so,  my 
lord  the  king !  As  thou  livest  and  as  thy  soul  liveth,  I  will 
not  do  this  thing !  I  came  from  the  wars  with  my  armor 
on,  and  I  return  to  it  when  thou  wilt,  with  it  on.  When 
the  war  ends,  I  will  take  oif  my  helmet  and  cuirass,  and 


542  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

lie  down  in  my  house  in  peace.  If  the  king  sent  for  me 
only  to  learn  how  Joab  did,  and  the  army  fared,  and  how 
the  war  prospered,  let  it  please  my  lord  the  king  to  send 
me  baok  again,  for  presently  we  are  to  have  a  great  battle, 
and  I  would  not  be  absent." 

"  Tarry  here  to-day,  and  to-morrow  I  will  let  thee  de 
part,"  answered  the  king,  who  evidently  felt  the  deepest 
annoyance  and  disappointment  at  this  turn  which  the 
affair  had  taken. 

The  same  day  at  even  the  king  entertained  his  lords 
and  officers,  and  also  Uriah  at  his  table,  and  pressed  the 
Hittite  warrior  warmly  with  goblets  of  wine.  When  the 
brave  soldier,  who  could  not  refuse  the  frequent  pledges 
of  the  king,  was  well  under  the  effects  of  the  wine,  the 
king  ordered  his  servants  to  take  him  home  and  leave 
him  there.  But  when  Uriah  found  himself  in  the  court, 
and  breathed  the  fresh  air,  he  disengaged  himself  angrily 
from  the  men,  who  fled  from  him.  He  then  went  to  the 
stone  hall  of  the  guard-house,  and  there  lying  down  slept 
until  morning. 

David  was  foiled  in  this  additional  wrong,  by  which  he 
fain  would  have  covered  up  the  original  injury;  for  one 
act  of  guilt  begets  others,  and  deprives  men  of  their  un 
derstanding  and  ordinary  judgment.  It  alters  their  very 
nature,  blinds  their  eyes  to  inevitable  consequences,  and 
debases  and  degrades  the  reason:  "especially,"  said  the 
Prophet  Nathan  .to  me  in  discoursing  of  this  matter,  "  is 
this  true  of  those  whose  sin  is  sensuality." 

But  a  greater  wrong  was  yet  to  be  done  to  conceal 
his  guilt,  and  protect  the  wife  from  the  law  of  death. 
He  who  generously  spared  Saul,  who  thrice  sought  his 
life,  when  he  could  have  destroyed  him,  now  meditates 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      543 

the  destruction  of  a  faithful  servant  who  had  oftentimes 
saved  his  life  in  battle,  and  for  years  had  guarded  his 
person.  So  degenerate  do  the  best  of  men  become  when 
once  they  resolve  to  do  evil. 

Commanding  the  unsuspecting  Uriah  before  him,  whom 
he  now  profoundly  hated,  not  only  because  men  naturally 
hate  those  they  injure,  but  because  the  wonderful  inter 
posing  providence  of  God  prevented  him  from  making 
him  the  instrument  of  hiding  his  crime,  he  said,  coldly : 

"Deliver  this  letter  to  Joab,  my  general,  in  the 
field.  Thou  mayest  remain  in  the  camp  until  the  war 
is  ended." 

Uriah  immediately  departed  from  the  presence  of  the 
king,  and  hastened  to  return  to  the  field  he  had  left  five 
days  before.  During  this  visit  to  the  court,  he  had  not 
gone  to  his  house,  nor  seen  his  wife,  whom  he  greatly 
loved.  How  can  this  be  accounted  for,  but  on  the  pre 
sumption  that  he  had  received  intimation  of  the  truth? 
Indeed  it  is  now  said  that  his  wife  secretly  sent  to  him 
confessing  the  whole,  and  imploring  him  not  to  suffer 
her  to  behold  his  face  again,  since  she  could  no  longer 
share  his  honorable  love.  If  this  be  so,  with  what  deli 
cacy  he  yielded  to  her  prayer,  and  with  what  dignity  he 
met  and  answered  the  royal  injurer  ! 

A  man  less  noble  than  Uriah  would  have  suspected, 
under  these  circumstances,  evil  in  a  letter  from  David  to 
Joab,  and  would  have  hesitated  to  deliver  it  without  first 
knowing  its  ccxtents;  but  he  honorably  executed  his 
trust 

When  Joab  received  the  letter  he  opened  it  and  read  as 
follows  :— 

"Set  ye  Uriah  in  the  fore-front  of  the  hottest  bat- 


544  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID  J    OB, 

tie,  and  retire  ye  from  him,  that  he  may  be  smitten  and 
die."* 

It  is  with  the  most  painful  hesitation,  my  dear  father, 
I  record  this  dreadful  history.  If  Saul  were  possessed 
with  an  evil  spirit,  the  same  demon  of  murder  and  wrong 
had  now  entered  into  the  heart  of  his  successor.  Well 
may  we  take  up  the  words  of  his  requiem  over  Saul,  and 
cry: 

"  How  are  the  mighty  fallen  !" 

When  Joab  had  read  the  letter,  he  said  within  himself : 

"  This  man  hath  done  some  crime  against  my  lord  the 
king  which  he  hath  reasons  for  not  punishing  openly, 
iving  him  the  favor  of  an  honorable  death.  I  must 
obey  the  king  my  lord  in  this  thing." 

Three  days  afterwards,  when  he  was  about  to  assault  a 
part  of  the  wall  of  the  city  and  fortress  they  were  besieg 
ing,  Joab  placed  Uriah  at  a  point  where  he  knew  would 
be  the  hottest  conflict,  and  at  which  place  he  was  to  put 
his  most  valiant  soldiers.  In  order,  however,  that  Uriah 
might  certainly  be  slain,  he  gave  orders  to  the  soldiers, 
who  were  purposely  selected  few  in  number,  to  retreat 
if  the  assailants  came  out  of  their  gates,  which  he  knew 
well  they  would  do,  while  to  Uriah  he  said :  "  Let  no 
man  retreat,  and  if  the  Ammonites  open  their  gates, 
enter*  at  the  head  of  your  men  and  take  the  citadel !" 

When,  therefore,  the  Ammonites,  seeing  but  few  sol 
diers  assaulting  the  gate,  sallied  forth  to  attack  them, 
while  others  shot  from  the  walls,  killing  several  of  David's 
men,  the  rest  fled,  leaving  the  brave  Uriah  standing  alone. 
In  a  moment,  he  was  surrounded  by  his  foes,  whom  ho 
fought  long  and  desperately,  slaying  many  at  his  feet, 
2  Samuel  xi.  15. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      545 

and  to  the  last  refusing  to  yield.  From  the  camp  the 
brave  and  fierce  Joab  saw  how  valiantly  he  sold  his  life, 
and  said : 

"  But  for  the  command  of  the  king,  I  would  sound  the 
retreat,  and  he  would  yet  bring  his  life  away !  It  is  a 
pity  to  see  so  valiant  a  soldier  slaughtered  like  a  lion  ai 
bay  !  There  he  falls  !  But  he  has  piled  a  tomb  of  dead 
men  about  him,  within  which,  like  a  true  and  great  war 
rior,  he  has  stretched  himself  in  death." 

So  died  the  king's  brave  captain,  slain  by  treachery 
and  guilt.  Who  can  forgive  the  king  this  deed  of  mur 
der  ?  The  crime  of  blood-guiltiness,  who  will  deliver  him 
from  ?  How  dearly  was  his  sin  purchased  !  Alas  for 
the  noble  and  faithful  soldier  and  husband  !  Who,  that 
recalls  the  hour  when  he  overtook  the  fugitive  David, 
lending  to  him  his  horse,  and  joining  his  fortunes,  could 
have  believed  such  would  have  been  his  end  ?  But  it 
has  ever  been  thus.  Kindnesses  in  this  world  are  almost 
always  but  the  forerunners  of  wrong  and  ingratitude 
from  the  recipients.  Only  a  godlike  disposition  can 
receive  a  favor,  and  not  hate  and  strive  to  injure  th? 
giver.  If  the  highest  angel  should  come  from  Heaven 
to  do  good  to  men,  he  would  be  repaid  by  ingratitude  and 
insults.  If  such  a  man  as  David  could  return  evil  for 
good,  who  can  be  called  wise  and  virtuous  ? 

The  same  evening,  Joab,  who  was  deeply  moved  at  the 
death  of  one  who  had,  for  twenty-five  years,  been  his 
fellow-soldier,  and  long  his  armor-bearer,  called  a  mes 
senger,  and  said  to  him  : 

"  Mount  a  swift  horse,  and  ride  to  Jerusalem,  and  when 
thou  comest  before  the  king,  give  him  an  account  of  all 
th<^  events  of  the  assault :  and.  I  charge  thce,  whec  thou 


546  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

hast  made  an  end  of  telling  of  all  the  things  I  com 
mand  thee  concerning  the  war,  and  of  the  discomfiture 
of  the  Hebrews,  and  the  death  of  many  of  the  king's  sol 
diers,  and,  lo  !  thou  seest  the  king's  wrath  rise  thereat, 
and  he  say  unto  thee, 

"'Wherefore  approached  ye  so  nigh  unto  the  city 
when  ye  did  fight  ?  Knew  ye  not  that  they  would  shoot 
from  the  wall  ?  why  went  ye  nigh  the  wall  ?'  then  answer 
thou,  and  say, 

"'  Thy  servant,  Uriah,  the  Hittite,  is  dead  also !'  " 

How  profound  the  knowledge  of  human  nature,  dear 
father,  is  evinced  by  the  old  Hebrew  warrior  in  this  last 
order  ?  How  thoroughly  it  proved  his  just  apprehension 
of  the  king's  real  character  ! 

When,  at  length,  the  courier  from  the  Hebrew  camp 
stood  before  David,  the  king,  hearing  from  him  of  the 
disaster  and  loss  of  his  soldiers,  became  displeased,  but 
the  words  of  the  messenger,  "  Uriah  the  Hittite  is  dead 
also !"  acted  like  a  talisman  upon  his  anger.  With  a 
face,  in  which  high  satisfaction  took  the  place  of  wrath, 
he  said,  in  an  altered  and  quiet  tone, 

"  Such  is  the  fortune  of  war !  Tell  Joab  not  to  let 
this  thing  trouble  or  dishearten  him,  for  the  sword  de- 
voureth  one  as  well  as  another.  Bid  him  send  out  a 
stronger  force  against  the  city  that  shall  not  fail  to 
overthrow  it.  Say  thou  to  him  that  the  king  hath  no 
fault  against  him,  and  bid  him  go  valiantly  on  with  the 
war ;  for  his  conduct  of  it  thus  far  pleasetu  the  king 
well!" 

After  the  seven  days  of  mourning  for  her  husband  were 
passed,  according  to  law,  David  hastened  to  bring  Bath- 
sheba  to  his  palace  and  make  her  his  wife,  which  he  did 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRLXCE  ABSALOM.      54:7 

do  in  the  presence  of  his  whole  court  with  great  pomp. 
But  in  a  few  months  after  the  marriage,  the  whole 
secret  became  manifest,  and  the  purposed  death  of  Uriah 
was  fastened  upon  the  king  by  the  indignant  judgment 
of  the  whole  army,  by  which  the  valiant  captain  was 
greatly  beloved. 

The  Prophet  Nathan  was  asleep  upon  his  bed  in  the 
closet  above  the  gate  at  Raman  in  the  Palace  of  the 
Judges,  when  he  had  a  vision  from  the  Lord,  in  which 
the  fourfold  guilt  of  David  was  made  known  to  him,  and 
he  was  commanded  to  arise  and  go  to  Jerusalem  and 
stand  before  the  king,  and  rebuke  him.  Uriah  had  been 
dead  then  a  year,  and  the  king  had  manifested  no 
remorse. 

David  at  that  hour  sat  upon  his  Judgment  Seat  in  the 
great  Hall,  and  all  his  officers,  and  lords,  and  elders  of 
his  court,  and  of  the  city  were  before  him.  I  also  stood 
in  the  presence,  as  I  desired  to  study  the  manner  in 
which  the  Hebrews  administer  justice.  When  the  king 
beheld  the  dignified  and  holy  man  of  God  enter  and  ad 
vance  up  the  Judgment  Hall,  his  face  changed;  for  he 
knew  that  the  prophets  are  oftener  the  ministers 'of  God's 
displeasure  than  of  his  favor.  Besides,  he  felt  that  he 
deserved  the  anger  of  God,  for  his  four-fold  crime  of 
adultery,  his  base  intoxication  of  Uriah,  his  treacherous 
murder  of  him,  and  marrying  the  wife  of  the  man  that 
he  had  killed  in  order  to  have  her. 

The  brow  of  the  prophet  was  calm,  and  his  features 
grave,  but  sad,  rather  than  stern.  With  his  ample 
sacerdotal  mantle  folded  about  his  tall  person,  his  step 
firm,  and  his  bearing  noble,  as  became  an  Ambassador 
from  Heaven,  he  stopped  opposite  the  king,  and  made  a 


548  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

low  obeisance,  before  the  anointed  of  tbe  Lord.  All 
eyes  were  fixed  upon  the  prophet  with  superstitious 
dread.  Not  a  thought  in  that  vast  hall,  but  was  recall 
ing  the  guilt  of  the  king,  and  suspected  for  what  the 
prophet  bad  come  into  his  presence. 

David  partly  rose,  and  bowed  reverently  before  the 
Prophet  of  the  Highest,  and  reseating  himself  said, 

"Wherefore  comest  thou,  0  Nathan,  whom  the  king 
delighteth  to  honor!" 

"I  come,  0  king,  to  crave  justice,"  answered  the 
prophet  mildly,  "for  this  should  be  the  throne  of  judg 
ment  and  of  justice." 

"Speak,  0  Nathan,"  answered  the  monarch,  looking 
relieved  and  as  if  a  great  weight  were  taken  from  his 
conscience;  "who  is  the  offender?  I  trust  that  justice 
and  judgment  are  the  habitation  of  my  throne,  for  all  who 
are  wronged  or  inflict  wrong." 

"There  were  two  men  in  one  city,"  said  the  prophet, 
speaking  calmly  and  humbly;  "the  one  rich,  and  the 
other  poor.  The  rich  man  had  exceeding  many  flocks 
and  herds :  but  the  poor  man  had  nothing  save  one  little 
ewe  lamb,  which  he  had  bought  and  nourished  up  ;  and 
it  grew  up  together  with  him,  and  with  his  children :  it 
did  eat  of  his  own  meat,  and  drank  of  his  own  cup,  and 
lay  in  his  bosom,  and  was  unto  him  as  a  daughter.  And 
there  came  a  traveler  unto  the  rich  man,  and  he  spared 
to  take  of  his  own  flock,  and  of  his  own  herd,  to  dress 
for  the  wayfaring  man  that  was  come  unto  him ;  but  took 
the  poor  man's  lamb,  and  dressed  it  for  the  man  that  was 
come  to  him." 

AYhen  the  king  heard  this  narrative  which  the  prophet 


THE    REBELLION    OF    PRTNCE    ABSALOM.  5  ±9 

gave  with  deep  feeling,  he  rose  to  his  feet,  and  with  a 
countenance  flushed  with  anger,  cried  in  a  loud  voice, 

"As  the  Lord  liveth,  the  man  that  hath  done  this  thing 
shall  surely  die :  and  he  shall  restore  the  lamb  four-fold, 
because  he  did  this  thing,  and  because  he  had  no  pity!" 

Then  the  prophet  drawing  himself  up  to  his  command 
ing  height,  and  with  a  sublime  anger  kindling  in  his  as 
pect,  said  with  stern  severity,  extending  his  hand  towards 
the  king, 

"  Thou  art  the  man!" 

The  king  stood  a  moment  transfixed  with  surprise. 
A  subdued  murmur  ran  through  the  hall,  which  told  how 
the  prophet's  narrative  told  home  in  the  mind  of  all  pre 
sent. 

David,  after  a  moment's  agitation,  descended  from  his 
throne  and  stood  humbly  and  penitently  before  the 
Prophet  of  the  Most  High  God.  The  personal  applica 
tion  of  the  parable  was  irresistible.  He  felt  all  the 
keenness  of  its  piercing  point.  Then  said  Nathan  : 

"  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  Israel,  I  anointed  thee 
king  over  Israel,  and  I  delivered  thee  out  of  the  hand 
of  Saul.  And  I  gave  thee  thy  master's  house,  and 
thy  master's  wives  into  thy  bosom,  and  gave  thee  the 
house  of  Israel  and  of  Judah;  and  if  that  had  been  too 
little,  I  would,  moreover,  have  given  unto  thee  such 
and  such  things.  Wherefore  hast  thou  despised  the 
commandment  of  the  Lord,  to  do  evil  in  his  sight?  Thou 
hast  killed  Uriah  the  Hittite  with  the  sword,  and  hast 
taken  his  wife  to  be  thy  wife,  and  hast  slain  him  with 
the  sword  of  the  children  of  Ammon.  Now,  therefore, 
the  sword  shall  never  depart  from  thine  house ;  because 
thou  hast  despised  me,  and  hast  taken  the  wife  of  Uriah 


55  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

the  Hittite  to  be  thy  wife.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  "Be- 
hold,  I  will  raise  up  evil  against  thee  out  of  thine  own 
house,  and  I  will  take  thy  wives  before  thine  eyes,  and 
give  them  unto  thy  neighbor.  Thou  didst  secretly  what 
thou  hast  done  against  Uriah,  but  I  will  do  this  thing 
before  all  Israel  and  before  the  sun!" 

Then  said  the  king  with  a  manner  and  tone  of  the 
deepest  humiliation,  "I  have  sinned  against  the  Lord! 
I  acknowledge  my  guilt !  Let  the  Lord  do  unto  me  as 
seemeth  good  in  his  sight!" 

The  humble  attitude  of  the  penitent  monarch  before 
the  prophet,  the  sincere  contrition  manifest  to  all  in  his 
looks  and  voice,  the  painful  spectacle  of  beholding  a 
king  thus  humbled  for  sin,  who  should  be  an  ensample 
to  his  people,  deeply  moved  all  present.  Tears  stood  in 
the  eyes  of  many  of  his  courtiers  at  a  sight  so  pitiful. 
But  Prince  Absalom  smiled  haughtily  and  frowned  upon 
the  prophet,  and  Mephibosheth  sneered  with  his  cold 
cynical  lip  and  eye.  Ahithophel  betrayed  nothing  in  his 
well-schooled  features.  Nathan,  who  had  known  David 
from  his  youth,  and  been  with  him  in  the  School  of  the 
Prophets,  was  himself  not  unmoved,  and  his  voice  was 
uneven  when  he  replied, 

"  The  Lord  hath  put  away  thy  sin  in  that  thou  dost 
humbly  confess  thy  guilt.  Thou  shalt  not  die  as  thy  sin 
meriteth.  Howbeit,  because  by  this  deed  thou  hast 
given  great  occasion  to  the  enemies  of  the  Lord  to  blas 
pheme,  thou  shalt  not  altogether  go  unpunished.  There 
fore  the  child  that  has  been  born  unto  thee  shall  surely 
die!" 

Then  the  prophet,  turning  from  the  face  of  the  king, 
folded  his  robes  about  him  and  slowly  strode  from  the 


THE    REBELLION   OF   PRINCE   ABSALOM.  551 

Judgment  Hall,  where  the  king  himself  had  been  judged 
that  day  by  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth. 

Such,  my  dear  father,  is  the  event  which  has  filled  the 
hearts  of  the  wise  and  good  in  Jerusalem  with  sorrow. 
The  king  is  certainly  deeply  humbled.  A  great  change 
has  come  over  him.  He  walks  in  his  house  with  a  lowly 
heart,  and  sad  but  contrite  looks.  He  ordained  a  public 
act  of  confession  and  sacrifice  for  his  sin,  and  humbled 
himself  in  sackcloth.  So  profound  was  his  repentance, 
and  it  showed  itself  in  such  humbleness  of  mind,  that 
those  who  at  first  were  most  bitter  against  him  were 
stirred  to  sympathy.  His  solemn  act  of  public  contrition 
in  the  Tabernacle  was  distinguished  by  the  composition 
of  a  penitent  psalm,  which  he  humbly  recited  aloud  be 
fore  all  the  people.  It  was  as  follows : 

Have  mercy  upon  me,  0  God,  after  thy  great  goodness; 
according  to  the  multitude  of  thy  mercies  do  away  mine  of 
fences. 

Wash  me  throughly  from  my  wickedness,  and  cleanse  nu 
from  my  sin. 

For  I  acknowledge  my  faults,  and  my  sin  is  ever  before  me. 

Against  thee  only  have  I  sinned,  and  done  this  evil  in  thy 
eight ;  that  thou  niightest  be  justified  in  thy  saying,  and  clear 
when  thou  art  judged. 

Behold,  I  -was  shapen  in  wickedness,  and  in  sin  hath  my 
mother  conceived  me. 

But  lo,  thou  requirest  truth  in  the  inward  parts,  and  shall 
make  me  to  understand  wisdom  secretly. 

Thou  shalt  purge  me  with  hyssop,  and  I  shall  be  clean ;  thou 
shalt  wash  me,  and  I  shall  be  whiter  than  snow. 

Thou  shalt  make  me  hear  of  joy  and  gladness,  that  the  bones 
which  thou  hast  broken  may  rejoice. 

Turn  thy  face  from  my  sins,  and  put  out  all  my  misdeeds. 


552  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OE, 

Make  me  a  clean  heart,  0  God,  and  renew  a  right  spirit  within 
me. 

Cast  me  not  away  from  thy  presence,  and  take  not  thy  Holy 
Spirit  from  me. 

O  give  me  the  comfort  of  thy  help  again,  and  stablish  me 
with  thy  free  Spirit. 

Then  shall  I  teach  thy  ways  unto  the  wicked,  and  sinners 
shall  be  converted  unto  thee. 

Deliver  me  from  blood-guiltiness,  0  God,  thou  that  art  the 
God  of  my  health ;  and  my  tongue  shall  sing  of  thy  righteous 
ness. 

Thou  shalt  open  my  lips,  0  Lord,  and  my  mouth  shall  show 
thy  praise. 

For  thou  desirest  no  sacrifice,  else  would  I  give  it  thee ;  but 
thou  delightest  not  in  burnt-offerings. 

The  sacrifice  of  God  is  a  troubled  spirit:  a  broken  and  con 
trite  heart,  0  God,  shalt  thou  not  despise. 

0  be  favorable  and  gracious  unto  Sion ;  build  thou  the  walls 
of  Jerusalem. 

Then  shalt  thou  be  pleased  with  the  sacrifice  of  righteous 
ness,  with  the  burnt-offerings  and  oblations;  then  shall  they 
offer  young  bullocks  upon  thine  altar. 

This  psalm  seems  to  exhaust  the  language  of  humble 
penitence.  He  feels  his  sin  is  too  great  for  the  blood  of 
bulls  and  of  goats  to  atone  for,  but  casts  himself  outside 
of  all  these  upon  the  mercy  of  his  God. 

He  also  implored,  day  after  day,  the  favor  of  God  to 
spare  his  infant  son.  He  wept  a.nd  fasted  for  its  life  to 
be  given  him,  for  it  was  a  child  of  extraordinary  beauty. 
But  the  fiat  had  gone  forth  and  been  uttered  by  the 
Prophet  of  God.  The  child  died  !  When  the  unhappy 
king  heard  of  its  death  from  his  servants,  he  calmly  rose 
up  and  said, 

*'  Now  that  he  is  no  more,  why  should  I  fast  and  afflict 
myself?  While  he  was  alive.  I  said,  Who  can  tell 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      553 

whether  God  will  be  gracious  unto  ine  that  the  child  may 
live  ?  But  now  he  is  dead,  wherefore  should  I  weep  and 
fast?  I  shall  go  to  him,"  he  added,  with  touching  ten 
derness,  "I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he  shall  not  return 
to  me  !" 

Then  the  king,  after  the  burial  of  the  child,  once  more 
arraying  himself  in  his  royal  apparel,  went  in  and  out 
before  his  people,  and  gave  himself  up  with  diligence  and 
wisdom  to  the  administration  of  the  neglected  affairs  of 
his  kingdom.  Once  more  he  piously  observed  the  laws 
of  religion,  and  devoutly  meditated  in  the  statutes  of  his 
God  day  and  night. 

TABLET.— LEAF   FIFTH. 

Seven  years  have  passed,  my  dear  father,  since  I  com 
menced  these  tablets.  Some  of  the  records  I  sent  you 
before  I  left  Jerusalem  to  visit  the  foreign  lands  from 
which  I  have  a  few  weeks  since  returned.  One  year's 
absence  in  acquiring  military  knowledge  in  Egypt,  one 
year  in  the  camp  in  Cyprus,  and  two  years'  service  with 
the  King  of  Grecia,  and  two  years  at  the  court  of  Tyre, 
with  full  another  year  spent  in  journeying  by  sea  and 
land,  have,  I  trust,  fulfilled  your  expectations  of  your 
son,  and  resulted  in  that  improvement  in  arts  and  arms 
which  you  have  sent  me  from  home  to  obtain.  My  let 
ters  from  those  foreign  countries  you  have,  no  doubt, 
duly  received  from  time  to  time,  and  as  I  am  now  once 
more  here,  in  order,  before  returning  to  Tadmor,  to  look 
after  the  business  connected  with  the  estate  near  Jericho 
which  my  royal  mother  received  from  her  father,  Isrilid, 
and  has  bestowed  upon  me,  I  will  while  here  resume  mj 


554  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

tablets,  for  I  have  interesting  events  to  record  -which 
have  transpired  since  my  absence. 

I  found  your  letters  here  informing  me  of  the  death 
of  the  wise  and  good  King  Belus,  and  that  you,  my  dear 
father,  had  tho  privilege  of  being  in  Assyria  and  with 
him  at  his  death.  As  he  never  married,  it  was  generous 
and  noble  in  him  to  offer  to  you,  his  dearest  friend,  the 
throne  of  Assyria ;  and  as  you  accepted  it,  upon  his  in 
sisting  thereupon,  for  my  elder  brother,  lonaton,  and  the 
vice-regency  of  Babylon,  for  my  next  brother,  Eldavid, 
I  cannot  refuse  to  hasten  home  at  your  command  to  be 
with  you  and  my  dear  mother.  Long  may  you  fill  the 
throne  of  Tadmor !  very  long  may  it  be  ere  its  crown  is 
transferred  by  your  death  from  the  brows  of  my  mother 
and  thine  to  mine  ! 

Great  changes  have  taken  place  in  this  kingdom  dur 
ing  my  absence.  The  king,  soon  after  I  left  Jerusalem, 
went  in  person  and  ended  the  war  in  Syria-Ammon,  by 
taking  its  city,  Kabbah,  before  which  Uriah  fell ;  and  as 
the  lords  and  king  thereof  had  treated  his  ambassadors 
(whose  persons  all  nations  should  hold  sacred)  so  basely, 
he  inflicted  upon  them  the  severest  punishment,  in  order 
to  show  other  barbaric  nations  how  people  who  insult  the 
representatives  of  kings  are  to  be  treated.  David,  hav 
ing  put  an  end  to  the  war,  was  crowned  king  of  Ammon, 
with  its  defeated  king's  golden  crown,  and  then  with  his 
victorious  armies  returned  to  Jerusalem.  He  now  de 
voted  his  time  to  the  colleotion  of  gold,  and  silver,  and 
precious  stones,  and  cedar,  and  brass,  and  fragrant  and 
beautiful  woods,  in  order  to  build  the  long-desired  tem 
ple  to  God,  if  God  would  now  permit  it ;  and  if  not,  to 
have  the  materials  in  readiness  for  his  son,  Solomon, 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      555 

who  was  born  to  him  by  Bathsheba,  his  wife,  after  the 
death  of  her  first-born.  This  prince  is  a  bright,  beauti 
ful  kd,  whom  I  daily  meet  in  the  corridors  of  the  palace, 
possessing  a  gravity  and  dignity  beyond  his  years.  He 
is  the  hope  and  glory  of  his  royal  father's  pride,  who  has 
destined  him  as  his  successor,  though  Prince  Absalom  is 
much  older,  being,  I  am  told  by  the  veteran  Joab,  tall, 
bearded,  and  the  very  image  of  his  father  when  he  was 
crowned  king  of  Judah,  at  Hebron.  But  this  prince  had 
been,  during  three  years  of  my  absence,  living  an  exile  from 
his  father's  court,  dwelling  a  fugitive  at  that  of  his  grand 
father,  the  Syrian  King  Talmai,  whose  daughter,  Ma- 
acah,  was  his  mother.  Thither  he  fled  from  the  wrath 
of  King  David,  his  father.  This  anger  against  him  was 
aroused  by  his  assassination  of  his  brother,  Amnon,  who 
had  insulted  his  sister,  Tamar,  in  a  manner  no  brother 
could  lightly  pardon.  Thus,  in  one  day,  the  sins  of  the 
king  began  to  be  visited  upon  his  children  and  his  house, 
according  to  the  prophecy  of  Nathan  ;  for  in  one  day  one 
of  his  sons  became  a  fratricide,  another  murdered  for  a 
great  crime,  and  his  daughter  dishonored.  Thus,  though 
the  transgression  of  a  man  may  be  forgiven,  it  seems  an 
inevitable  law  that  the  natural  consequences  must  still 
take  place.  The  sins  of  David  were  repeated  in  his 
sons,  who,  by  sensuality  and  blood,  bore  the  legitimate 
fruit  of  the  parent  tree. 

The  king,  however,  felt  no  anger  towards  Absalom, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  mourned  daily  his  absence  and 
constantly  sent  to  hear  of  him.  No  city  of  refuge  in  his 
own  land  could  have  protected  him,  inasmuch  as  the  mur 
der  of  his  brother  was  designed,  and  a  long  premeditated 


556  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

vengeance ;  therefore  he  guardedly  kept  himself  at  the 
court  of  King  Talmai. 

That  King  David  did  not  send  for  his  son  whom  he  so 
idolized,  and  had,  in  heart,  forgiven,  was  because  he 
feared  the  people  would  be  dissatisfied  if  he  recalled  him 
At  length,  however,  being  prevailed  upon  by  the  elo 
quence  of  a  woman  who  came  before  him  at  the  request 
of  Joab,  and  by  Joab  himself,  who  greatly  desired  the 
prince  to  be  brought  back,  he  gave  orders  as  his  general 
desired.  The  prince,  therefore,  returned  with  the  vene 
rable  warrior,  but,  when  he  entered  Jerusalem,  so  great 
was  the  indignation  of  the  populace  that  he  should  be 
received,  that  the  king,  hearing  the  uproar,  feared  to  see 
his  son  and  openly  to  pardon  him  too  freely ;  and  there 
fore  ordered  him  to  go  to  his  house  in  another  part  of 
the  city,  and  dwell  there,  until  it  should  be  the  king's 
pleasure  to  restore  him  by  a  full  and  public  pardon  to  his 
favor. 

The  subjects  of  the  king  thereby  seeing  that  David 
did  not  pass  lightly  over  the  crime  of  his  son,  prince 
though  he  was,  and  often  beholding  the  comely  young 
man  walking  in  his  gardens,  grew  less  bitter  after  a  year 
or  more ;  and,  from  disliking  him,  began  to  admire  him, 
and  to  pity  him  thus  kept  a  prisoner  by  the  king,  his 
father. 

In  all  Israel  there  is  none  so  much  praised  as  Absalom 
for  his  extraordinary  personal  beauty :  "  from  the  sole 
of  his  foot  even  to  the  crown  of  his  head,"  say  the  He 
brews,  his  admirers,  "there  is  no  blemish  in  him."  And 
not  only  the  elegance  of  his  form,  the  comeliness  of  hia 
countenance,  the  brilliancy  of  his  complexion,  and  splen« 
dor  of  his  eyes  render  him  attractive  above  all  other 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      557 

young  men,  but  the  glory  of  his  hair,  its  richness  and 
abundance,  and  the  magnificent  masses  in  which  it  falls 
over  his  shoulders  and  breast,  fill  every  beholder  with 
wonder  and  admiration.  He  is  proportionably  vain 
thereof.  Daily  his  Nubian  servants  comb  out  its  long 
tresses,  anoint  it  with  fragrant  oils  of  myrrh,  cinnamon, 
and  sweet  spices,  and  training  it  to  flow  in  luxuriant 
waves,  powder  it  with  dust  of  gold,  which,  in  the  sun's 
rays,  lend  to  it  a  starry  splendor. 

At  length,  finding  that  the  common  people  were  more 
and  more  disposed  to  favor  him  and  flatter  him,  the 
graceful  and  beautiful  prince  became  impatient  of  his 
confinement,  and  dispatched  a  messenger  to  his  mentor, 
Joab,  asking  him  to  come  and  visit  him. 

To  this  request  the  aged  warrior  paid  no  regard,  when 
the  incensed  young  prince  sent  his  servants  to  destroy 
some  of  the  property  of  Joab  which  was  near  his  own 
abode.  Then  Joab,  when  he  was  told  of  this  outrage, 
went  to  the  prince  where  he  was  held  a  prisoner  in  his 
house,  and,  remonstrated  with  him:  Absalom  answered, 

"Behold!  I  sent  unto  thee  to  come  hither  that  thou 
mayest  go  to  my  father,  the  king,  who  hath,  for  fear  of 
the  people,  lest  they  should  think  he  overlooked  too 
lightly  the  death  of  Arnnon  by  my  hand,  kept  me  here 
as  if  I  were  a  robber  chief  of  the  desert  he  had  caught 
in  his  toils,  and  has  held  me  here  for  show,  these  two 
whole  years  to  the  curiosity  of  all  the  people  of  Jerusalem 
as  if  I  were  a  caged  leopard.  I  sent  for  thee  to  bid  thee 
go  to  my  father,  and  ask  him  why  he  hath  brought  me 
from  the  court  of  Talmai  in  Geshur  of  Syria  ?  It  would 
have  been  much  better  for  me  to  have  remained  there 
still.  If  I  am  pardoned  by  the  king,  wherefore  this  con- 


558  THE  THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

tinned  banishment  from  his  face?  Have  not  three  years' 
exile  in  Syria  and  two  years  shut  up  in  this,  my  palace, 
been  expression  enough  of  the  king's  anger  against  me  ? 
Go,  therefore,  to  the  king,  and  let  me  come  before  him 
and  see  him  face  to  face !  If  he  has  pardoned  me,  let 
me  go  in  and  out  before  him  as  aforetime  !  If  he  finds 
guilt  in  me  still,  and  iny  blood  is  required,  let  him  put 
me  to  death;  for  death  is  preferable  to  this  suspense." 

The  veteran  soldier,  though  angry  with  the  prince  for 
the  injury  he  had  done  in  setting  fire  to  his  fields,  obeyed 
him,  and  presented  his  petition  before  the  king. 

Rejoiced  to  have  an  intercessor  for  his  erring  and  be 
loved  son,  in  so  eminent  a  person  as  his  general,  King 
David  gladly  consented  to  the  permission  sought,  and 
which  he  had  long  desired  to  grant,  and  at  once  sent  for 
the  prince !  Joab  brought  to  his  father  the  seemingly 
penitent  young  man,  who  bowed  himself  in  humble 
obeisance  before  him,  even  with  his  face  to  the  ground, 
and  asked  his  forgiveness  for  what  he  had  done.  The 
king  was  deeply  moved  at  the  sight  of  his  son,  whose 
face  he  had  not  seen  for  five  years ;  and  raising  him  up, 
he  fell  upon  his  neck  and  kissed  him  in  token  of  complete 
reconciliation. 

When  Prince  Absalom  went  forth  again  into  the  Court 
of  the  Palace,  he  was  hailed  by  the  soldiers  with  accla 
mations  ;  and  as  he  rode  along  upon  a  superb  charger, 
the  handsomest  rider  and  most  courteous  and  elegant 
looking  man  in  the  kingdom,  he  could  with  difficulty 
make  his  way  through  the  streets  back  to  his  house,  for 
the  crowds  of  rejoicing  citizens,  chiefly  of  the  lower 
class,  who  filled  the  air  with  cries  of  "Long  live  Absa 
lom  !  Lono;  live  the  Prince  of  Jerusalem !" 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      559 

TABLET.— SIXTH  LEAF. 

Since  I  wrote  the  last  leaf  of  my  journal,  dear  father, 
important  events  have  occurred,  the  narration  of  which 
will  amaze  you  and  cause  you  deep  grief.  King  David 
is  at  this  moment  a  fugitive  from  Jerusalem,  an  exile 
from  his  throne,  fleeing  from  his  rebellious  son,  Prince 
Absalom. 

This  unprincipled  young  man's  vanity  and  ambition 
had  been  kindled  by  the  flattering  reception  he  had  met 
with  by  the  populace,  and  he  harboured  the  idea  of 
wearing  a  crown.  To  this  arrogant  presumption  he  was 
prompted  by  a  subtle  courtier,  who  had  been  his  adviser 
and  tempter  in  his  crime,  and  encouraged  in  by  the  deep 
and  artful  policy  of  Ahithophel,  the  Prime  Minister  of 
David.  Having  firmly  opposed  his  reconciliation  with 
the  prince,  when,  therefore,  the  king  took  Absalom  back 
to  his  heart  and  confidence,  the  pride  of  Ahithophel,  at 
this  rejection  of  his  wise  counsel,  was  deeply  wounded- 
The  long-existing  regard  he  had  entertained  for  his  mo 
narch  was  in  a  moment  destroyed.  lie  resolved  to  avenge 
this  conduct  of  David ;  for  a  king's  counselor  can  be 
offended  in  no  manner  so  grievously  as  by  the  rejection  of 
his  counsels.  Courtiers  are  bound  to  monarchs  only  by 
ties  of  selfish  aggrandisement  and  personal  ambition. 
Their  power  consists  in  having  power  over  the  king.  They 
rule  by  him !  Ahithophel,  from  the  hour  of  the  recon 
ciliation,  saw  that  his  power  was  gone ;  and  that  Absa 
lom  would  henceforth  become  his  father's  adviser  and 
confident. 

Mephibosheth,  whose  penetration  and  subtlety  fath 
omed  all  the  policy  and  secrets  of  the  court,  was  not 


560  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

long  in  discovering  this  alienation.  He  sought  an  inter 
view  with  Ahithophel,  and  insidiously  fanned  the  spark 
of  disloyalty ;  and  watching  his  moment,  he  said, 

"  Hast  thou  heard  that  the  prince  has  secret  aspira 
tions  to  reign  over  Israel  and  sever  the  crown,  leaving 
Judah,  as  of  old,  only  to  his  father  ?  He  has  been  for 
the  last  year  stealing  the  hearts  of  the  people.  He  has 
prepared  horses  and  chariots,  and  fifty  men  to  run  before 
him.  He  is  the  most  popular  person  in  the  kingdom  at 
this  moment.  All  eyes  are  fixed  upon  the  rising  star  !" 

The  seed  was  dropped  in  a  congenial  soil.  That  night 
Ahithophel  secretly  sought  the  house  of  Prince  Absalom, 
and  from  that  hour  was  born  the  unnatural  conspiracy 
which  has  driven  the  king  from  his  throne.  The  ambi 
tious  prince  kept  secret  his  purpose  in  his  own  breast, 
and  in  the  hearts  of  his  counselors.  He  took  great 
state  upon  him,  rode  forth  from  the  gates  and  from  town 
to  town  royally  attended,  drawing  the  eyes  and  admira 
tion  of  all  people  unto  him.  He  stood  in  the  gate  of  the 
palace,  and  in  the  door  of  the  Hall  of  Judgment,  grant 
ing  all  petitions  without  referring  them  to  the  king,  and 
Buffering  the  guilty  to  go  without  judgment.  The  splen 
dor  of  his  manly  beauty,  the  grace  of  his  speech,  the 
condescending  courtesy  with  which  he  received  and  ad 
dressed  the  meanest  citizens,  won  all  hearts  ;  while  the 
unthinking  populace  were  carried  away  by  a  show  of 
royal  equipage,  such  as  King  David  had  never  indulged 
in,  and  which  resembled  the  magnificence  of  the  courts 
of  Egypt  and  Phoenicia. 

One  day,  the  king  being  ill,  Absalom  sat  upon  his 
judgment  seat.  He  decided  all  cases  so  agreeably, 
that,  when  the  people  applauded,  he  could  not  refrain 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      561 

from  saying  as  he  left  the  hall,  and  they  were  crowded 
near  him,  to  behold  him  : 

"  Oh,  that  I  were  made  judge  in  the  land,  that  every 
man  which  hath  any  suit  or  cause  might  come  unto  me, 
and  I  would  do  him  justice  !" 

If  any  approached  him  to  make  obeisance,  he  gra 
ciously  prevented  him,  and,  with  his  captivating  smile, 
put  forth  his  hand,  or  embraced,  or  kissed  him  as  if  he 
greatly  loved  and  honored  him,  although  the  person 
might  be  the  meanest  man  in  Jerusalem ;  so  artfully  did 
the  counsels  of  the  politic  and  wicked  Ahithophel  guide 
Him  in  his  pathway  to  popularity  and  to  power. 

The  indulgent  king  took  no  notice  of  this,  and,  believ 
ing  he  sought  only  the  honor  and  glory  of  his  reign,  he 
let  him,  cunningly  and  by  flattering  words,  alienate  the 
hearts  of  Israel  from  their  lawful  allegiance.  Some  he 
won  by  his  beauty  and  gallant  bearing ;  some  by  his 
courtesy  and  civility ;  others  he  carried  with  him  by 
magnificent  promises  ;  and  others,  by  his  boasts  of  what 
noble  acts  for  the  glory  of  the  empire  he  would  do  if  he 
were  king. 

The  king,  who,  for  nearly  forty  years,  had  reigned 
over  Israel  and  Judah,  and  believed,  himself  immoveably 
fixed  upon  his  throne,  was  not  disturbed  by  these  demon 
strations  of  rebellion  against  his  power,  if,  as  is  doubt 
ful,  the  proceedings  of  the  prince  were  all  made  known  to 
him.  The  indisposition  of  the  king  continuing,  probably, 
prevented  his  full  knowledge  of  what  was  passing  so 
deeply  affecting  his  power  and  happiness,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  gave  the  rebel  prince  full  opportunity  to 
perfect  his  plans. 

At  length,  his  conspiracy  being  matured,  and  confident 
36 


562  THE    THROVE    OF    DAVID;  OR, 

that  he  had  enough  of  the  people  with  him,  the  treache 
rous  prince  presented  himself  in  the  sick-chamber  of  his 
father,  where  Queen  Bathsheba  sat  by  him,  and  his  son 
Solomon,  a  prince  in  his  eighth  or  ninth  year,  was  waving 
above  his  head  a  fan  of  gorgeous  Indian  feathers. 

During  the  whole  time  in  which  he  was  secretly  plot 
ting  to  dismember  his  father's  united  kingdoms,  he  had 
not  ceased  daily  to  appear  before  him,  and,  outwardly, 
manifest  the  conduct  of  a  dutiful  son.  The  Prime  Coun 
selor  Ahithophel,  concealing  his  revengeful  feelings,  also, 
as  before,  held  his  place  by  the  throne,  and  when  David 
would  express  any  misgivings  as  to  the  state  in  which 
his  son  was  living,  he  would  artfully  put  them  to  rest. 

"  My  royal  and  beloved  father  and  honored  king," 
said  Absalom,  after  kneeling  and  kissing  his  hand,  "  I 
pray  thee,  let  me  go  and  pay  my  vow,  which  I  have  vowed 
unto  the  Lord,  in  Hebron,  where  I  was  born,  and  where 
Abraham  and  our  fathers  sacrificed :  for,  while  I  wras  in 
Syria  an  exile,  I  vowed  a  vow,  saying,  "  If  the  Lord  shall 
bring  me  again  to  Jerusalem,  then  will  I  serve  the  Lord 
in  Hebron!" 

The  king,  gratified  at  this  show  of  piety,  blessed  him 
and  let  him  depart.  Leaving  the  room  with  a  courtly 
bow  of  homage  to  the  queen,  and  a  word  of  kindness  to 
the  little  Prince  Solomon,  who  affectionately  came  up  to 
bid  him  good-bye,  he  departed. 

The  same  day,  Absalom  left  Jerusalem  at  the  head  of 
two  hundred  chief  men  of  the  city,  and  of  the  king's 
officers,  who  suspected  no  wrong,  supposing  he  wras  to 
return  upon  sacrificing  to  the  Lord.  Abiathar  also  went 
with  him.  After  sacrificing,  he  took  possession  of  the 
gates,  and  of  the  fortress,  and  of  the  ancient  palace  of 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      563 

Saul,  and  where  once  dwelt  his  father,  King  David. 
Here  he  raised  the  standard  of  rebellion,  for  hundreds 
flocked  to  him,  sent  for  Ahithophel  to  join  him,  arid  de 
spatched  messengers  throughout  all  the  tribes  of  Israel, 
calling  upon  the  people,  saying,  "As  soon  as  ye  hear 
the  sound  of  trumpets  blowing  from  citadel  to  citadel, 
know  that  Absalom  reigneth  in  Hebron,  and  let  every 
man  say,  *  Long  live  the  King  of  Israel :  Long  live 
Absalom  !'" 

When  the  news  came  to  the  ears  of  King  David,  m 
Jerusalem,  that  Absalom  had  taken  up  the  fallen  crown 
of  Ishbosheth,  and  had  been  crowned,  even  by  Abiathar, 
King  of  Israel,  with  Hebron  for  his  capital,  and  that 
Ahithophel  was  his  Prime  Counselor,  and  that  the  peo 
ple  increased  continually  with  Absalom,  and  that  many 
of  the  elders,  and  chief  men,  and  warriors  had  declared 
for  him,  he  rent  his  clothes  and  humbled  himself  before 
the  Lord,  in  the  door  of  the  Tabernacle,  saying  : 

"  Thou  hast  laid  me  in  the  lowest  pit,  in  darkness  and 
in  the  deeps.  My  sins  have  taken  such  hold  upon  me, 
that  I  can  not  look  up.  Thy  wrath  lieth  hard  upon  me ' 
Thou  hast  afflicted  me  with  all  thy  waves.  0  turn  not 
away  thy  face  from  thine  anointed;  for  thou,  0  Lord, 
hast  said  thou  wilt  establish  the  throne  of  thy  servant 
David  forever!" 

While  he  was  yet  humbling  himself  before  the  Lord, 
Joab  came  near,  in  full  armor,  crying, 

"Wherefore,  0  king,  dost  thou  delay!  L^p  and  escape! 
for  some  of  the  chief  men  who  went  with  Absalom,  have 
fled  from  him  hither,  and  say  that  he  gather eth  a  mighty 
arniy  and  will  march  against  thee  I  Fall  not  into  his 


564:  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

hands,  and  into  the  hands  of  Ahithophel,  fur  they  will 
put  thee  to  death,  and  reign  over  Judah,  also!" 

The  voice  of  the  veteran  warrior  fell  like  the  peal  of  a 
trumpet  upon  the  ears  of  King  David.  He  rose  and 
called  for  his  armor,  and  put  it  on;  and  consulted  with 
Joab,  who  ad\ised  speedy  flight,  as  there  was  not  time 
to  provision  the  city  to  stand  a  siege ;  and  moreover,  so 
extensive  was  the  conspiracy  among  the  soldiers,  he  said 
he  knew  not  whom  to  trust. 

That  night  King  David  left  his  palace,  and  with  all 
his  household  departed  on  foot  from  the  city  which  he 
could  not  defend.  The  queen  and  Prince  Solomon  walked 
by  his  side.  His  other  wives  remained  behind,  prefer 
ring  rather  to  trust  to  the  favor  of  Absalom,  than  endure 
the  perils  of  the  desert.  Abigail,  the  widow  of  Nabal,  no 
longer  lived.  The  city  of  Jerusalem  that  night  became 
a  scene  of  woe  and  terror.  The  streets  were  thronged 
with  alarmed  people,  not  knowing  in  what  direction  safety 
lay ;  some  crying  that  it  was  best  to  remain  and  trust  to 
the  prince;  and  others,  that  security  was  with  the  king  as 
he  was  God's  anointed.  Thousands  flocked  after  the 
fugitive  monarch  all  night,  while  the  most  part  remained 
and  shut  themselves  up  in  their  houses  awaiting  events. 
The  garrison  almost  to  a  man  shouted  for  Prince  Absalom ! 
The  royal  body-guard  of  Cherithite  archers,  and  the 
cross-bowmen  of  Peleth,  and  the  six  hundred  tower- 
guards  of  Philistines  of  Gath,  who  served  him  for  pay, 
and  whom  Ittai,  a  son  of  King  Achish,  commanded  (for 
Philistia  now  belonged  to  David),  were  all  the  soldiers 
which  accompanied  him.  This  noble  Ittai  followed  the 
king  from  affection,  for  when  David  was  an  exile  in  his 
father's  court  at  Gath,  he  was  a  lad  of  twelve,  and  became 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      505 

greatly  attached  to  him ;  and  after  Philistia  "became  trib 
utary  to  him,  Ittai,  from  his  ancient  regard  and  affection, 
came  with  six  hundred  men  and  offered  himself  and  them 
for  the  king's  service.  Ittai  now  voluntarily  accompanied 
his  royal  master  in  his  misfortunes;  and  David  was 
deeply  moved  that  foreigners  should  thus  show  their  at 
tachment  to  him,  when  his  own  countrymen  deserted  him. 
Abiathar  who  had  returned  from  Hebron,  Absalom  fear 
ing  to  detain  a  priest  of  God,  ordered  the  Ark  of  the 
Covenant  to  follow  the  king  over  the  brook  Kedron,  be 
yond  the  city,  that  the  Oracle  of  God  might  be  with  him 
in  his  flight.  When  the  king  beheld  the  Ark,  he  kindly 
commanded  them  to  carry  it  back  again  and  place  it 
within  the  Tabernacle,  God's  own  habitation,  saying 
humbly,  "If  the  Lord  will  favor  me,  he  can  do  so  from 
thence,  and  bring  me  back  again  to  worship  there  be 
fore  His  Mercy-seat.  If  he  delight  not  in  me,  Lo,  I 
am  before  Him,  let  Him  do  what  seemeth  good  unto 
Him." 

The  unhappy  monarch,  whose  wonderful  life  of  vicissi 
tudes  presents  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  chapters 
of  human  history,  sending  his  people  eastward  over  the 
brook  in  the  valley,  followed  himself.  As  he  ascended 
Mount  Olivet,  he  turned  back  and,  gazing  upon  the  city, 
the  towers  of  which  the  morning  sun  was  just  illuming  with 
golden  light,  tears  coursed  down  his  aged  and  chastened 
cheeks.  Hiding  his  head  in  his  mantle,  he  proceeded 
barefoot,  followed  by  a  mourning  and  weeping  con 
course. 

At  the  top  of  the  hill  his  ancient  friend  and  officer 
Hushai,  who  had  gone  unwittingly  with  Absalom  to 
Hebron,  not  knowing  anything  of  the  rebellious  son's 


566  THE    THROXE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

designs,  met  him,  having  just  escaped  from  the  prince. 
The  two  friends  embraced,  and  Hushai  said,  "Knowest 
thou,  0  king,  I  left  Ahithophel  with  Absalom  in  Hebron, 
giving  him  counsel?" 

"I  know  it,  0  my  friend.  Let  the  Lord,  whose  servant 
I  am,  turn  the  counsel  of  Ahithophel  into  foolishness!" 
He  then  said  to  his  friend,  "If  thou  goest  with  me,  thou 
wilt  be  a  burden  to  me ;  for  what  can  I  do  with  all  these  ? 
Return  to  Jerusalem.  Stay  there  and  learn  all  things 
that  pass  there,  and  in  the  palace,  and  send  me  word 
privately  by  the  faithful  sons  of  Abiathar  and  Zadok,  the 
chief  priests.  It  is  necessary  I  have  such  a  friend  in  the 
city." 

While  the  king  was  hastening  onward  with  his  melan 
choly  army  of  fugitives,  consisting  mainly  of  women 
and  children,  and  the  halt  and  invalid,  and  old  men,  be 
sides  his  soldiers  before  mentioned,  he  was  met  by  Ziba, 
the  old  servant  of  Saul,  who,  you  recollect,  brought 
Prince  Jonathan's  son,  Mephibosheth,  many  years  ago 
to  Jerusalem,  and  whom  David  made  the  steward  of 
Saul's  estate,  which  he  had  generously  bestowed  upon  the 
son  of  his  friend.  This  wily  old  man,  who  had  grown 
rich  in  farming  the  possessions  of  Mephibosheth,  now 
brought  to  the  wearied  and  famished  king  a  present  of 
bread,  raisins,  dried  fruits,  and  wine,  laden  upon  asses, 
saying : — 

"  Live  forever,  0  king ;  thy  servant  hath  brought 
these  asses  for  thy  wife,  Bathsheba,  and  the  young 
Prince  Solomon  to  ride  on,  and  fruit  and  provision  for 
thy  soldiers,  and  wine  for  such  as  be  faint  in  the  wil 
derness." 

"Where  is  thy  master's  son,  Mephibosheth?     I  have 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRIXCE  ABSALOM.      567 

not  seen  him  these  three  days  !  Sent  he  thee.  hither 
with  these  gifts?" 

"The  grandson  of  Saul  abideth  in  Jerusalem,"  an 
swered  Ziba  ;  "  for  I  heard  that  he  said  yesterday,  when 
my  lord  the  king  fled,  l  To-day  shall  the  House  of  Israel 
restore  me  the  kingdom  of  my  father  Jonathan  !' ' 

Behold,  my  dear  father,  the  subtlety  of  this  prince, 
who  for  so  many  years  had  eaten  the  king's  bread,  and 
whom  he  enriched.  When  David  heard  this  he  said,  bit 
terly  : 

aYea,  mine  own  familiar  friend,  in  whom  I  trusted, 
which  did  eat  of  my  bread,  hath  lifted  up  his  heel  against 
me.  But  the  Lord  will  be  merciful  to  me,  and  raise  me 
up  that  I  may  requite  them  who  rise  up  against  me. 
When  I  return  to  my  throne,  0  Ziba,  for  this  day's 
kindness  to  a  fallen  king,  thou  shalt  have  all  that  ap- 
pertaineth  to  Mephibosheth.  There  shall  not  be  left  a 
place  for  his  burial  in  the  lands  of  his  father  I  gave 
him!  All  shall  be  thine  !" 

A  little  farther  on,  the  king  passed  the  habitation  of 
a  man  named  Shimei,  who  was  a  kinsman  to  King 
Saul;  and  seeing  David's  low  estate,  he  cast  stones  at 
him  from  the  top  of  his  house,  and  then  came  forth  and 
cursed  him,  and  all  with  him,  shouting  aloud  and  rejoic 
ing  in  his  fall,  saying  : 

"  Come  out,  come  out  of  Jerusalem,  thou  bloody  man, 
thou  man  of  Belial !  Lo,  the  Lord  hath  returned  upon 
thee  all  the  blood  of  the  House  of  Saul,  in  whoso  stead 
thou  hast  reigned,  and  the  Lord  hath  delivered  the  king 
dom  into  the  hand  of  Absalom,  thy  son  !" 

Then  Abishai,  the  friend  of  the  king,  and  brother 
of  Joab,  who,  you  remember,  niy  father,  joined  David 


568  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

forty  years  ago  in  his  exile  near  Mount  Carmel,  cried  in 
great  wrath :  "  Let  me,  0  king,  take  off  this  dog's  head 
who  curseth  my  lord  the  king !"  Joab  also  drew  his 
sword  to  slay  him. 

"  Nay,  Abishai — nay,  Joab — ye  sons  of  Zeruiah  !  Let 
him  curse  on !  The  Lord  hath  sent  him,  and  commanded 
him,  '  Curse  David  !'  God  knoweth  what  my  hand  hath 
done !  What  marvel  that  this  Benjamite  curses  me, 
when  my  own  son  seeks  to  take  my  life  !  Let  him  alone, 
and  let  him  curse !  It  may  be  that  the  Lord,  seeing  my 
humility  and  patience  under  this  man's  cursing,  will  re 
quite  me  good  for  it !" 

Such,  my  dear  father,  is  the  present  aspect  of  affairs 
at  this  moment,  David  being  now  three  days  gone  out 
of  the  city  and  encamped  at  Bahurim.  I  am  still  re 
maining  in  the  city,  though  my  heart  is  with  the  king ; 
but  by  his  counsel  I  have  remained  behind.  Hushai  is 
at  the  same  house  with  me.  What  the  issue  of  all  will 
be  I  know  not.  The  whole  capital  is  in  a  state  of  con 
fusion  and  excitement.  The  soldiers  hold  all  the  strong 
places  and  gates  for  the  rebel  prince.  Their  commander 
is  no  less  a  person  than  Mephibosheth,  who  secretly  go 
verns  the  whole  city,  as  if  for  Absalom,  though  he  does 
not  render  himself  visible.  But  he  is  unquestionably 
the  master  spirit !  He  plays  a  deep  game.  If  Absalom 
enter  Jerusalem,  it  will  be  to  fall  by  the  dagger,  or  by 
poison  ;  for  this  grandson  of  Saul  means,  says  Hushai, 
(who  is  pretending  to  be  his  friend  and  the  adherent  of 
Absalom,  in  order  to  counterwork  the  intrigues  of  the 
crafty  Ahithophel,)  to  make  the  vain  prince  the  stepping 
stone  to  the  throne  of  his  father. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      569 

TABLET.  — LEAF    SEVEN. 

Many  weeks  have  passed,  my  dear  father,  since  I  last 
took  up  my  pen.  I  will  briefly  record  the  events.  Scarcely 
had  the  king's  party  crossed  the  brook  Kedron,  ere  Ab 
salom,  at  the  head  of  a  large  army,  encamped  at  Bethle 
hem,  and  the  next  morning,  followed  by  thousands  of 
the  baser  sort,  entered  Jerusalem  in  triumph.  He  was 
proclaimed  king  as  he  entered  the  court  of  his  father's 
palace,  and  received  the  homage  of  the  chief  men  and  of 
the  soldiers.  He  even  compelled  Abiathar's  son  to 
anoint  him.  Among  the  eminent  men  who  approached 
him  was  Hushai,  the  sage  and  learned  Archite,  who, 
bowing  down  before  him,  said,  "  God  save  the  king,  God 
save  the  king !"  meaning  in  his  heart  King  David. 

"What!  lord  Ilushai,  art  thou  remaining?  Is  this 
thy  kindness  to  thy  friend  whom  thou  fleddest  from  He 
bron  doubtless  to  join?  Why  wentest  thou  not  with  thy 
friend  David,  my  father  ?" 

"Nay,"  answered  the  Archite,  respectfully  but  sub- 
tilely,  "  but  whom  the  Lord,  and  this  people,  and  all  th'e 
men  of  Israel  choose,  his  will  I  be,  and  with  him  will  I 
abide.  If  I  have  served  in  the  father's  presence,  shall  I 
not  serve  in  the  presence  of  the  son  ?" 

These  words  gave  Absalom  confidence  in  him,  and  he 
gladly  received  him  into  his  counsels  with  Ahithophel, 
and  said  : 

"  Counsel  ye  together,  my  lords,  and  advise  me  what 
I  shall  now  do  ?" 

Ahithophel,  fearing  a  reconciliation  might  ultimately 
take  place,  advised  Absalom  to  take  to  wife  the  fairest 
of  his  father's  foreign  wives,  whom  he  had  left  behind, 


570  THE   THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OK, 

knowing  such  a  step  would  forever  remain  unpardoned 
by  the  king.  Absalom  yielded  to  the  dangerous  counsel, 
which  Hushai  however  firmly  opposed.  Ahithophel  also 
counseled  the  usurper  to  choose  twelve  thousand  men, 
and  give  him  the  command  of  them,  saying,  "  I  will  go 
forth  and  pursue  David,  and  will  presently  come  upon 
him  while  he  is  weary  and  weak -handed,  and  his  men 
will  flee,  and  I  will  smite  the  king  only  to  put  him  to 
death,  and  then  all  Israel  will  submit  to  thee  as  king ; 
for  there  is  none  else  !" 

Absalom  was  well-pleased  with  this  advice,  but  sent  for 
Hushai  to  learn  his  opinion. 

"What  sayest  thou,  0  Hushai?"  asked  Absalom; 
"  for  art  thou  not  also  one  of  my  counselors  ?  Ahitho 
phel  adviseth  me  to  pursue  the  king  with  all  possible 
haste,  ere  he  strengthen  himself  with  an  army.  Shall  I 
do  as  he  counsels?  If  not,  what  sayest  thou?" 

"  The  counsel  Ahithophel  has  given  thee  is  not  good," 
boldly  replied  the  Archite.  "  Thou  knowest  thy  father 
and  his  men  with  him  are  all  mighty  men  of  valor !  Who 
so  brave  as  these  Pelethites  and  these  men  of  Cheritk  ? 
and  who  can  contend  with  the  lion-like  Ittai  and  his 
formidable  Gittites,  when  they  are  chafed  and  sore  with 
being  driven  away  !  Like  a  bear  robbed  of  her  whelps, 
they  will,  if  pressed,  turn  at  bay.  Thy  father,  though 
gray-headed,  is  a  man  of  war  of  old,  as  thou  knowest, 
and  his  experience,  too,  is  such,  that  he  will  not  be  found 
by  thee  lodged  in  his  camp,  for  he  will  fear  treachery ; 
but  will  retire,  by  night,  into  some  secret  place.  Be  sure 
he  will  conceal  himself  from  all  assassins !  Wait  and 
gather  the  thousands  of  Israel  together  for  the  field,  lest 
if  thy  men  are  defeated  by  Joab,  there  will  be  a  cry, 


THE  REBELLION  OP  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      571 

Absalom's  people  are  slain/  and  it  go  against  thee  and 
thy  cause.  Venture  not  a  battle  until  thou  art  sure  of 
victory.  I  counsel  thee  to  take  the  field  in  thine  own 
person  at  the  head  of  thine  army,  and  then  shall  ye  over 
power  him  and  his,  and,  if  he  be  driven  to  a  city,  ye 
can  surround  it,  and  take  it,  and  all  within  it.  Aliitho- 
phel's  counsel  is  not  good  !  He  and  his  twelve  thousand 
men,  if  they  go  out,  will  be  utterly  destroyed  by  Joab 
and  the  king,  who  are  like  lions." 

"The  counsel  of  Ilushai  is  good — wiser  than  the  coun 
sel  of  Ahithophel:"   answered  Absalom,   and    also  the 
elders  of  Israel;  and  his  courtiers,  and  officers  agreed 
with  him,  even  as  they  had  before  agreed  with  him  when 
the  counsel  of  Ahithophel  pleased  him. 

Hushai  then  sent  the  sons  of  the  priests  secretly  to 
warn  David  not  to  delay  crossing  the  Jordan,  lest  the 
counsels  of  Ahithophel  might  yet  prevail  with  the  prince, 
and  he  be  destroyed.  The  next  night,  David  crossed  the 
river  Jordan  with  all  his  followers,  and  sought  refuge  in 
the  city  of  Mahanaim,  where  Prince  Ishbosheth  formerly 
dwelt,  and  lodged  in  the  palace  in  which  he  was  slain  by 
the  two  brothers. 

When  Ahithophel  heard  of  the  interview  which  the 
prince  held  with  the  Archite,  and  that  messengers  had 
been  sent  to  David,  warning  him  of  his  own  counsel,  he 
saw  at  once  that  his  power  at  the  rebel  court  was  gone ; 
and  that  he  was  in  peril,  not  only  from  the  fickle  temper 
of  his  new  master,  but  from  the  diplomacy  of  the  saga 
cious  Archite,  who  held  his  ear.  The  experienced  diplo 
mat  knew  enough  of  the  custom  of  courts,  to  be  aware 
that  a  disgraced  counselor  is  regarded  by  the  crown  as  a 
foe.  Anticipating,  therefore,  each  moment,  his  arrest, 


572  THE   THRONE   OF   DAVID;    OR, 

he  fled  from  the  palace  and  hastened  to  his  own  house. 
Here  he  shut  himself  up  and  surveyed  his  position  !  He 
saw  that  if  Absalom  ultimately  ruled  Israel,  he  would 
put  him  to  death  ;  and  that  if  David  got  the  better  of 
Absalom,  he  would  not  suffer  him  to  live  after  so  trea 
cherously  betraying  him.  These  reflections,  united  to 
the  bitter  idea  that  his  rival's  counsels  should  be  pre 
ferred  to  his  own,  maddened  with  vexation  and  anger  at 
his  defeat,  his  passions  and  anguish  of  mind  increased  by 
wounded  pride,  (for  he  was  a  man  as  haughty  as  he  was 
sagacious,)  in  a  moment  of  fierce  despair  at  his  certain 
disgrace,  he  resolved  to  destroy  himself.  This  determina 
tion  fixed,  he  set  his  house  in  order,  wrote  letters  to  the 
king  and  prince,  and  to  others,  and,  just  as  the  day 
dawned,  he  hanged  himself  with  the  cords  of  the  curtain 
of  his  sumptuous  couch. 

When  news  was  brought  Absalom  of  this  tragic  ter 
mination  of  the  career  of  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
statesmen,  wisest  counselors,  and  profoundest  diploma 
tists  that  ever  stood  before  a  monarch,  he  expressed  his 
surprise  by  a  mere  interjection  of  regret,  and  ordered 
him  to  be  buried  in  the  sepulchre  of  his  fathers ! 

King  David  now  organized  his  forces,  and  numbering 
all  who  were  with  him,  found  he  had  many  thousands, 
both  of  men  of  Israel  and  Judah ;  for  great  companies 
soon  flocked  to  him  at  Mahanaim  from  all  the  tribes  of 
the  kingdom,  while  the  elders  and  chief  people  beyond 
Jordan  supplied  him  with  all  manner  of  camp-equipage, 
clothing,  and  provisions.  Absalom,  in  the  meanwhile, 
levied  a  vast  army,  and  at  the  head  of  it  marched  from 
Jerusalem  to  give  battle  to  the  king,  his  father.  Cross 
ing  the  Jordan,  at  the  ford  of  Jericho,  he  pitched  his 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      573 

camp  over  against  the  strong  city  of  Mahanaim,  where  the 
king  was  fortified.  David's  army  was  divided  into  three 
divisions,  under  the  command  of  Joab,  Abishai,  his  bro 
ther,  (the  same  who  went  with  David  to  Saul's  tent,  and 
took  away  the  cruse  of  oil  and  spear,)  and  Ittai,  the 
brave  Philistine  chief.  When  they  were  arrayed  for 
battle,  the  king  would  have  placed  himself  at  the  head 
of  his  hosts,  but  the  army  effectively  refused  to  suffer 
him  to  expose  himself,  saying : 

"  Thou  shalt  not  go  forth,  for  if  we  are  defeated  they 
will  not  pursue  us,  for  it  is  the  king  they  seek  !  Thou 
art  worth  ten  thousand  of  us.  Therefore,  remain  in  the 
city.  If  we  are  beaten,  thoti  canst  raise  another  army. 
If  thou  art  taken,  then  all  is  lost,  though  none  of  us  die  !" 

"  That  which  seemeth  to  you  best,  0  my  children,  I 
will  do,"  said  the  aged  king. 

He  then  stood  by  the  city  gate,  and  saw  them  all 
march  out  by  hundreds  and  thousands.  When  the  whole 
army  had  gone  forth  into  the  plain,  the  king  called  the 
three  generals,  Joab,  now  nearly  threescore  years  and 
ten,  Abishai,  a  few  years  his  junior,  and  Ittai,  who  was 
about  fifty- five. 

"  Go  forth,  my  brave  captains,  and  fight  the  battle  of 
the  Lord.  And  may  the  Lord  of  hosts  and  God  of  battles 
be  with  your  arms  !  But  I  charge  you,  and  all  of  your 
captains,  and  all  the  people,  that  ye  deal  gently,  for  my 
sake,  with  the  young  man,  even  with  Absalom  !" 

How  beautiful,  my  dear  father,  this  charge  to  his  war 
riors  !  How  tenderly  the  kingly  old  man  felt  for  the 
rebel  prince,  his  son,  who  had  driven  him  from  his  throne ! 
What  an  exalted  spirit  of  forgiveness  !  What  a  lovely 
illustration  of  that  parental  affection  which  no  ingrati- 


574  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;     OR, 

tude  or  evil  can  wholly  destroy.  "  Deal  gently,  for  my 
sake,  with  Absalom."  These  few  words  alone  are  almost 
sufficient  to  redeem  the  past  errors  of  the  exiled  king. 

The  armies  met  at  the  end  of  the  plain,  by  the  forest  of 
Ephraim,  and  before  noon  the  battle  began  !  For  several 
hours  the  hosts  of  Israel,  under  Absalom,  got  the  advan 
tage  against  Abishai,  and  Ittai,  and  their  thousands,  but 
when  Joab  came  up  with  his  reserved  division,  the  troops 
of  the  prince,  under  the  immediate  command  of  the 
renowned  Amasa,  his  general,  gave  way,  and  fled  in  all 
directions,  but  most  of  them  seeking  shelter  in  the  wood 
in  their  rear.  Thousands  fell  on  the  plain,  and  more  still 
amid  the  trees  of  the  forest  by  the  swords  of  the  pursuing 
soldiers  of  David.  Absalom,  seeing  that  the  day  was 
wholly  lost,  to  save  his  life,  fled ;  and  in  escaping  rode 
swiftly  beneath  the  branches  of  an  oak  of  the  forest,  one 
of  which  caught  him  by  the  long  hair  and  lifted  him  from 
his  saddle,  leaving  him  suspended  thereby  a  few  feet  above 
the  ground. 

Joab,  in  full  pursuit  through  the  dark  avenues  of  the 
oaks  after  Absalom,  passed  him  unseen  on  one  side  of 
the  wood,  when  a  soldier  cried, 

"  Behold,  my  lord,  I  saw  the  king's  son,  Absalom, 
caught  in  a  tree  by  the  head  ?  " 

"  Why  didst  thou  not  smite  him  there  to  the  ground  ?  " 
cried  the  old  warrior  fiercely.  "  I  would  have  given 
thee  ten  shekels  of  silver,  and  a  golden  girdle  for  thy 
sword  !  " 

"  Though  I  should  receive  a  thousand  shekels  in  mine 
hand,  yet  would  I  not  slay  the  king's  son/''  answered 
the  man  of  Judah;  "for  in  my  hearing,  the  king  charged 
thee,  and  Abishai,  and  Ittai,  to  deal  gently  with  the 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      575 

young  man  Absalom,  and  harm  him  not!  If  I  had  slain 
him  against  the  king's  word,  even  thou,  0  my  lord, 
wouldst  have  put  me  to  death  !" 

UI  may  not  linger  here!  Where  safest  thou  the 
prince?"  demanded  the  hoary-headed  old  man. 

AY  hen  the  soldier  had  pointed  out  to  him  the  oak  on 
the  other  side  of  the  forest,  Joab  left  him,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  coming  to  the  spot,  beheld  the  prince  hanging  in 
the  tree,  entangled  partly  by  his  long  hair,  and  partly 
by  the  arched  crest  of  his  helmet  that  caught  in  the  fork 
of  the  branch  and  held  him.  With  his  sword,  the 
wretched  young  man  had  already  cut  off  a  great  quantity 
of  his  idolized  locks,  in  a  vain  eifort  to  disengage  him 
self;  but  the  throat  chain  of  the  helmet  nearly  suffocated 
him,  and  he  would  have  strangled  and  died  there  ere 
many  hours.  When  Joab  came  up,  he  cried, 

"So  thou  art  at  last  in  my  power,  0  disturber  of 
Israel  and  of  Judah !  This  day  thou  shalt  die  for  thy 
father's  peace,  and  mine  own  revenge !  for  I  have  not 
forgotten  the  injury  thou  didst  me  in  burning  my  field  ! 
But  for  this  private  revenge  I  might  spare  thee,  boy,  as 
the  king,  thy  father,  bade  me  deal  gently  with  thee;  but 
he  who  crosses  the  path  of  Joab  of  Zeruiah  to  injure  him, 
surely  dies  !  Thou  rernemberest  Abner !  Likewise  shalt 
thou  perish." 

The  dying  prince  essayed  to  speak,  but  could  not ;  but 
his  eyes  revealed  his  terror  and  anguish,  as  he  saw  the 
tall,  stern-visaged,  white  haired  warrior  step  back  a  few 
paces  and  level  one  of  three  javelins,  which  he  held  in 
his  hand,  at  his  heart.  As  it  flew  on  its  errand  of  death 
through  the  whizzing  air,  Absalom  uttered  a  wild,  appre 
hensive  cry  of  horror,  which  was  stopped  by  the  cleaving 


576  THE   THRONE   OF    DAVID;    OR, 

barb  entering  his  heart.  Another  and  another  dart 
followed,  and  the  hapless  rebel  hung  writhing  beneath 
the  oak.  Ten  young  men  of  Joab's  body-guard  coming 
up  at  the  instant,  cried  out,  "Let  us  bear  the  blame  also 
of  his  death,"  and  thrust  their  javelins  through  his  body 
and  slew  him. 

Joab  gazed  for  a  few  moments  on  the  lifeless  body,  and 
then  commanded  his  trumpeter  to  sound  the  recall,  which 
from  bugle  to  bugle  echoed  far  and  wide  through  the  vast 
wood ;  for  he  wished  to  spare  the  lives  of  the  people,  who, 
now  that  Absalom  was  dead,  had  no  cause  of  battle  with 
each  other.  Thus  in  the  very  act  of  killing  the  prince, 
he  had  humanely  and  generously  a  thought  for  the  lives 
of  the  multitude,  who,  all  of  one  blood,  had  been  brought 
into  this  civil  war  by  his  rebellion.  When  the  army  of 
David,  hearing  the  retreat  sounded,  stopped  the  pursuit 
and  returned,  Joab  commanded  that  no  one  should,  that 
day,  go  to  the  king  to  carry  news  of  the  war,  because  on 
the  day  of  so  great  a  victory  he  did  not  wish  bad  news 
to  go  to  him;  "for,"  said  he,  "the  king's  son  is  dead!" 
The  next  day,  however,  two  messengers  were  sent  to 
Mahanaim  by  Joab,  Cushi  and  Ahimaaz. 

The  king  sat  between  the  inner  and  outer  gate  of  the 
city,  which  looked  towards  Ephraim,  waiting,  like  Eli 
of  old,  for  news  from  the  battle.  At  length  the  watch 
man,  who  ever  stands  over  the  city  gate,  reported  that 
he  saw  a  man  running  alone  across  the  plain  towards  the 
city. 

"If  he  be  alone,  there  is  tidings  in  his  mouth,"  said 
the  king ;  and  he  arose  and  saw  him  coming  on  apace  and 
drawing  near. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      577 

"Lo,  my  lord  the  king,"  cried  the  watchman,  "Be 
hold,  another  man  runneth  alone." 

"  He  also  bringeth  tidings,"  said  King  David. 

And  the  watchman  said,  "  Methinketh  the  running  ot 
the  foremost  is  like  the  running  of  Ahimaaz,  the  son  of 
Zadok."  And  the  king  said,  u  He  is  a  good  man,  and 
c  ometh  with  good  tidings. ' '  And  Ahimaaz  called,  and  said 
unto  the  king,  "  All  is  well."  And  he  fell  down  to  the 
earth  upon  his  face  before  the  king,  and  said,  "  Blessed  be 
the  Lord  thy  God,  which  hath  delivered  up  the  men  that 
lifted  up  their  hand  against  my  lord  the  king."  And  the 
kin<r  said,  "  Is  the  young  man  Absalom  safe  ?"  And  Ahi 
maaz  answered,  "  When  Joab  sent  the  king's  servant,  and 
me  thy  servant,  I  saw  a  great  tumult,  but  I  knew  not 
what  it  was."  And  the  king  said  unto  him,  "  Turn  aside, 
and  stand  here."  And  he  turned  aside,  and  stood  still. 
And,  behold,  Cushi  came  ;  and  Cushi  said,  "  Tidings,  my 
lord  the  king  :  for  the  Lord  hath  avenged  thee  this  day 
of  all  them  that  rose  up  against  thee."  And  the  king  said 
unto  Cushi,  "  Is  the  young  man  Absalom  safe  ?"  And  Cu 
shi  answered,  "  The  enemies  of  my  lord  the  king,  and  all 
that  rise  against  thee  to  do  thee  hurt,  be  as  that  young 
man  is." 

And  the  king  was  much  moved,  and  went  up  to  the 
chamber  over  the  gate,  and  wept ;  and  as  he  went,  thus 
he  said,  "  0  my  son  Absalom  !  my  son,  my  son  Absalom  ! 
would  God  I  had  died  for  thee,  0  Absalom,  my  son,  my 
son!" 

No  words  can  be  more  touching,  no  language  of  pas 
sionate  grief  so  affecting  as  this.  When  he  was  going 
up  to  his  chamber,  he  refused  to  let  any  one  follow  him, 

and  was  heard  bemoaning  his  son  as  he  went,  until  his 
37 


578  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

voice  was  hushed  in  the  distant  recesses  of  his  apart 
ments, 

This  depth  of  paternal  affection  has  no  parallel.  How 
it  exalts  the  character  of  the  father  and  king  in  our  es 
teem  !  There  is  a  sublimity  in  such  grief  which  com 
mands  our  admiration  and  awakens  our  sympathies 
The  victory  could  not  be  celebrated  on  such  a  day  of 
mourning,  and  all  the  people  stood  in  amazed  groups, 
and  talked  of  the  king's  great  grief  for  his  son.  When 
the  conquerors  returned  and  heard  at  the  gate  how  the 
king  wept  for  Absalom,  they  hushed  their  shouts  of  vic 
tory,  and  gat  them  by  stealth  into  the  city,  more  like 
soldiers  who  have  lost  a  battle,  and  are  fleeing  away 
ashamed,  than  conquerors. 

When  they  passed  the  palace,  and  heard  through  the 
distant  windows  the  king's  cry :  "  0  my  son  Absalom, 
0  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son!"  they  feared  to  be  seen, 
and  in  silence  and  mortification  sought  their  garrisons. 

When  Joab  came  and  heard  all  this,  he  was  very 
highly  displeased,  and  went  abruptly  to  the  king,  and 
said : — 

"  Thou  hast  shamed  this  day  the  faces  of  all  thy  ser 
vants,  which  this  day  have  saved  thy  life,  and  the  lives 
of  thy  sons,  and  of  thy  daughters,  and  the  lives  of  thy 
wives,  and  the  lives  of  thy  concubines :  in  that  thou 
lovest  thine  enemies,  and  hatest  thy  friends :  for  thou 
hast  declared  this  day,  that  thou  regardest  neither  princes 
nor  servants :  for  this  day  I  perceive,  that  if  Absalom 
had  lived,  and  all  we  had  died  this  day,  then  it  had 
pleased  thee  well.  Now,  therefore,  arise,  go  forth,  and 
speak  comfortably  unto  thy  servants  :  for  I  swear  by  the 
Lord,  if  thou  go  not  forth,  there  will  not  tarry  one  with 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      579 

thee  this  night :  and  that  will  be  worse  unto  thee  than 
all  the  evil  that  befell  thee  from  thy  youth  until  now." 
Then  the  king  arose,  and  sat  in  the  gate.  And  they 
told  unto  all  the  people,  saying,  "  Behold,  the  king  doth 
sit  in  the  gate." 

When  the  army  heard  that  the  king  had  made  his  ap 
pearance,  their  chief  men  and  captains  came  before  him, 
and  were  received  by  him  with  kind  and  commending 
words  upon  their  devotion  to  his  crown,  and  praised  for 
their  valor  in  battle. 

The  next  day  David,  seeing  that  he  was  now  absolute 
king  again,  prepared  to  return  to  his  capital.  The  Is 
raelites,  who  had  followed  Absalom,  now  vied  with  the 
people  of  Judah  for  the  honor  of  escorting  the  king  and 
bringing  him  back  to  Jerusalem ;  and  were  so  zealous  to 
repair  their  fault  and  honor  him,  that  they  would  have 
had  all  the  glory  of  his  restoration,  if  word  had  not  been 
sent  to  Jerusalem  that,  unless  the  friends  of  David  came 
forth  to  meet  him,  Israel,  with  its  armies,  would  alone 
bring  the  king  back  to  his  throne.  But  the  rebellious 
people  of  Jerusalem  were  doubtful  as  to  their  treatment 
by  King  David,  and  hesitated  what  to  do,  fearing  his 
vengeance,  if  he  came  to  them,  and  equally  his  justice, 
if  they  marched  to  meet  him.  Abiathar,  the  priest, 
however,  assured  them  of  David's  full  pardon  to  all  in 
Jerusalem,  and  that  he  would  ask  no  questions  of  any 
man  whether  he  had  gone  with  Absalom  or  not.  Then 
the  whole  army  of  Judah,  headed  by  the  elders  and  Abia 
thar,  sent  word  to  David,  saying :  "  Return,  0  king,  to 
thy  throne,  thou  and  all  with  thee !" 

Without  waiting  for  the  monarch's  arrival,  they 
marched  out,  and  hastened  to  Gilgal,  near  Jericho,  to 


580  THE    THRONE    OF    DAVID;    OR, 

meet  and  receive  him  when  he  should  come  over  the 
Jordan.  David,  in  the  meanwhile,  was  waiting  in  Ma- 
hanaim  for  the  late  army  of  Absalom  to  assemble,  to 
escort  him  back,  but  hoping  Judah  would  move  for  this 
purpose  before  they  could  come  together.  When,  there 
fore,  a  messenger  came  to  him  that  all  Jerusalem,  with 
the  royal  banner  in  advance,  was  coming  towards  Jeri 
cho  to  receive  him,  he  at  once  left  the  city  with  all  his 
people  and  with  a  thousand  Israelites  under  the  com 
mand  of  Amasa,  Absalom's  late  general,  whom  he  had 
pardoned  and  received  into  his  favor.  It  was  this  Amasa, 
David's  nephew,  who  accompanied  King  Saul  and  Doeg 
on  the  visit  of  that  monarch  to  the  sorceress  in  Endor. 
He  had  subsequently  been  a  soldier  under  Isbosheth,  and 
had  recently  been  made  general  of  the  army  of  his  rebel 
cousin,  Prince  Absalom. 

The  returning  king  was  received  at  the  fords  of  Jor 
dan  by  the  people  of  Judah,  and  escorted  in  great  tri 
umph  back  to  Jerusalem.  On  his  way  thither  the  Shimei 
who  had  stoned  him  now  fell  in  abject  humility,  (for 
what  will  not  a  base  man  give  for  his  life?)  at  the  feet 
of  the  king,  and  asked  his  forgiveness.  The  king  an 
swered  :  "No  man  shall  be  put  to  death  this  day  of  re 
joicing.  Thou  shalt  not  die."  Thus  he  began  by  mercy 
and  clemency  to  re-establish  his  throne. 

Ziba  also  was  in  the  returning  king's  army,  even 
having  crossed  the  Jordan  to  meet  and  join  him.  As 
the  triumphant  thousands  of  Judah  came  to  the  top  of 
Mount  Olivet,  and  David  thence  beheld  the  city,  he 
stopped  and  gave  praise  to  God  with  all  his  people,  for 
being  permitted  once  more  to  behold  the  walls  of  Zion  in 
peace.  This  eminence  which  a  few  weeks  before  had 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.     581 

been  ascended  by  him  in  tears,  and  barefooted,  and  with 
his  hea.d  covered  in  shame,  he  now  descended  with  the 
glory  and  state  of  a  conquering  monarch,  the  people 
shouting  "Hosannas"  before  him,  strewing  flowers  in  his 
path,  and  laying  tapestry  and  their  most  gorgeous  robes 
along  the  way,  for  his  steed  to  tread  upon ! 

Thus  the  King  of  the  Hebrews  returned  to  his  capital, 
and  was  once  more  seated  upon  his  throne.  His  wives 
and  concubines,  which  the  rebel  prince,  in  taking  his 
father's  crown,  had  taken  as  his  own,  (thus  fulfilling  the 
prophecy  of  Nathan,  that  David's  wives  should  be  given 
to  another,)  the  king  refused  to  see,  but  placed  them  in 
a  separate  house  to  be  secluded  for  life  from  all  eyes. 
The  seventh  day  after  his  return,  as  the  king  sat  on  the 
Throne  of  Judgment,  hearing  long  delayed  cases,  the 
Prince  Mephibosheth  came  and  stood  before  him.  His 
beard  and  hair  were  long  and  undressed,  his  apparel 
mean  and  rent,  and  his  whole  aspect  one  of  outward 
humiliation.  Abishai,  whom  David  had  placed  over  his 
guard  instead  of  Joab,  (whom  the  king  had  forbidden  hia 
presence  since  the  slaying  of  Absalom,)  not  knowing 
him  in  his  present  wretched  aspect,  would  have  led  him 
out  of  the  hall. 

"Nay,"  said  the  king,  "take  no  man  forth.  I  give 
judgment  and  justice  to  all  men  in  Israel  and  Judah.  Is 
not  this  Mephibosheth  ?  Whence  comest  thou  to  me,  and 
BO  long  in  coming?"  he  asked  sternly. 

"From  Bethel,  the  house  of  my  fathers,  0  king,"  he 
answered,  "whither  I  went  after  Absalom  took  the  city; 
for  my  heart  was  not  with  the  young  man,  but  with  the 
king!" 

"Wherefore  then  wentest   thou  not  with  me  at  the 


582  THE    THRONE   OF    DAVID;    OR, 

first?"  asked  David.  "I  heard  words  of  thine  repeated 
in  mine  ears,  which  were  offensive  to  me  and  were  worthy 
of  death!" 

"  The  tale  told  thee  by  my  wicked  servant  Ziba,  0 
king,  deceived  thee,"  answered  he  humbly  and  depreca- 
tingly;  "I  would  have  followed  thee;  but  thou  knowest  1 
could  not  on  foot.  I  ordered  my  servant  Ziba  to  saddle 
me  an  ass  that  I  might  ride  thereon  after  my  lord  the 
king ;  and  lo,  he  took  two  asses  and  laded  them  and  de 
ceived  me,  and  in  his  own  name,  went  after  thee  to  find 
favor  in  thine  eyes,  and  hath  slandered  thy  servant  unto 
my  lord,  the  king,  that  he  might  get  my  estates.  Let 
my  lord  the  king  discern,  with  the  divine  wisdom  God 
hath  given  thee  as  a  judge,  between  truth  and  falsehood 
in  the  thing.  Here  before  thy  throne  of  judgment,  0 
king,  I  submit  to  thy  judgment,  and  trust  to  thy  mercy ; 
for  all  my  fathers'  house  were  but  dead  men  before  thee, 
and  yet  thou  didst  set  me  at  thy  table.  What  right  have 
I  to  claim  any  thing  more  at  the  hands  of  the  king  ? 
Mercy  and  justice  are  all  I  ask."  Thus  spake  Mephi 
bosheth,  Jonathan's  son,  before  the  friend  of  Jonathan. 

When  David  had  regarded  his  abject  appearance  and 
saw  the  tears  of  humility  drop  down  upon  his  neglected 
beard,  there  was  evidently  a  struggle  in  his  mind  how  to 
decide.  Already  he  had  given  judgment  against  him 
by  giving  all  he  had  to  Ziba.  Ziba  was  not  present  to 
make  any  defence.  That  Mephibosheth  was  wholly  inno 
cent  of  having  favored  Absalom',  and  looked  to  the  re 
storation  of  the  crown  of  Saul  in  himself,  he  was  not 
fully  assured.  But  he  had  resolved  that  mercy  should 
illustrate  his  restoration,  and  as  he  had  by  public  pro 
clamation,  pardoned  all  who  had  followed  the  misguided 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      583 

prince  in  his  rebellion,  he  could  not  withhold  pardon 
from  the  son  of  his  friend,  even  though  he  were  guilty 
of  treason.  He,  therefore,  answered  him  and  said, 

"  What  thou  hast  done  or  spoken  I  ask  not  to  heart 
Mephibosheth.  Ziba  is  not  in  Jerusalem  to  answer. 
My  former  grant  and  decree  shall  stand  for  thy  father's 
sake ;  which  was,  that  the  lands  shall  be  thine,  and  thou 
shalt  be  lord  over  them,  as  hitherto;  and  Ziba  shall  divide 
with  thee  the  income  for  the  farming  and  stewardship 
thereof!" 

The  Israelites  beyond  Jordan,  when  at  length  they 
found  the  king  had  put  himself  under  the  escort  of 
Judah,  were  very  angry,  and  sent  elders  and  chiefs  to  him, 
saying, 

"  Why  have  the  men  of  Judah,  our  brethren,  stolen 
thee  away  and  brought  thee  over  Jordan  without  us?" 

"  Because,"  David's  counsilors  and  chief  captains  an 
swered  them,  "  the  king  is  nearer  to  us  in  blood  than  to 
you,  being  born  in  Bethlehem  of  Judah.  Wherefore  be 
ye  angry,  0  men  of  Israel  ?" 

"  We  have  ten  parts,  we  ten  tribes  of  Israel,  in  the 
king,  and  have  more  right  to  David  than  you  who  have  but 
two  parts  in  him,"  the  men  from  beyond  Jordan  replied. 
"  Why  then  did  ye  despise  us  in  not  letting  our  advice 
and  aid  be  had  in  bringing  the  king  back?" 

Thus  speaking,  the  Israelite  ambassadors  departed  from 
Jerusalem  in  great  displeasure. 

This  feeling,  so  bitterly  expressed,  my  dear  father, 
increased  and  took  form  in  open  rebellion.  Sheba,  a 
relative  of  Saul,  and  a  man  of  unscrupulous  character, 
of  great  bravery,  and  an  adventurer  in  arms,  living  by 
his  sword  in  whatsoever  king's  service  he  could  find 


584  THE    THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 

employment,  and  who  had  been  second  in  command  in 
Absalom's  army,  next  to  Amasa,  seeing  this  disaffection, 
resolved  to  avail  himself  of  it  to  create  a  revolt  against 
David.  Gathering  a  few  desperate  followers,  and  joined 
by  Adonijah,  a  brother  of  Absalom,  he  marched  from 
town  to  town,  sounding  a  trumpet  before  him,  and  pro 
claiming  : 

"  We  have  no  part  in  David,  neither  have  we  inherit 
ance  in  the  son  of  Jesse !  Every  man  to  his  tents,  0 
Israel !" 

This  rallying  cry  was  readily  listened  to  by  the  disaf 
fected  men  of  Israel.  This  chief  soon  gathered  a  small 
army  about  him,  and  fortified  himself  in  a  city  called 
Abel.  Against  him,  the  king  sent  Amasa  with  a  large 
force  to  besiege  it,  associating  with  him  in  command 
Joab's  brother,  Abishai ;  for  Joab  was  in  disgrace.  On 
the  march,  near  Gibeon,  Joab  appeared  and  volunteered 
to  serve  under  Amasa  ;  but,  observing  his  time,  he  ran 
his  sword  through  his  body  while  he  was  talking  with 
him,  and  left  him  dead  in  the  road.  The  bold  warrior 
and  assassin  then,  raising  aloft  his  bloody  sword,  cried 
unto  the  army,  "  He  that  is  on  David's  side  and  for 
Joab,  let  him  follow  Joab  !" 

The  army,  accustomed  to  the  command  of  Joab,  at  once 
accepted  him  as  their  general.  He  soon  besieged  the 
citadel  of  Abel,  when  the  citizens,  at  the  suggestion  of  a 
woman,  in  order  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  their  town, 
betrayed  the  revolutionary  chief,  Sheba,  and  cast  his 
head  over  the  wall  to  the  leader  of  the  hosts  of  Judah. 
Adonijah,  the  dissolute  prince,  was  pardoned  by  Joab, 
with  whom  he  was  a  favorite. 

Thus  this  rebellion  was  crushed  in  its  beginning,  and 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      585 

Joab,  returning  a  conqueror  to  Jerusalem,  presented 
himself  before  the  king  with  the  audacity  of  a  man  who 
knows  that  his  power  as  head  of  the  army  is  too  great 
and  dangerous  to  the  throne  for  the  king  to  dare  to  dis 
place  him.  This  fierce  and  turbulent  chief,  this  man  of 
blood,  is  now  general  over  all  the  hosts  of  Israel. 

Thus,  my  dear  father,  is  the  king  once  more  seated 
upon  his  throne ;  but  the  prestige  of  his  ancient  glory 
and  power  is  gone  !  Sin,  and  crime,  and  degradation 
have  lessened  the  love  and  honor  of  the  people  for  one 
whom  God  anointed  to  be  their  example  in  all  piety, 
chastity,  justice,  and  truth.  Deeply  does  he  feel  the  loss 
of  the  confidence  of  his  subjects,  while  he  has  no  faith  in 
the  affection  of  those  who  stand  about  his  throne.  Fear 
ing  Joab,  he  dare  not  offend  him,  but  is  compelled  daily 
to  endure  the  insolent  presence  of  the  old  chief,  whose 
hand  is  dyed  with  the  blood  of  Absalom,  his  son.  The 
days  of  the  monarch  are  passed  in  efforts  to  administer 
the  laws  of  God  in  his  realm  with  fidelity,  in  educating 
his  noble-looking  son,  Solomon  to  be  his  successor,  in 
works  of  religion,  and  in  public  acts  of  Avorship. 

The  excited  state  of  the  country,  during  the  past  few 
months,  dear  father,  has  delayed  my  business  in  reference 
to  the  lands  inherited  by  my  royal  mother  ;  as  the  Court 
of  Elders,  which  presides  over  the  settlement  of  estates, 
has  not  held  any  session  since  the  rebellion  of  Absalom. 
The  king  assures  me  that  my  affairs  shall  receive  early 
attention,  and  that  those  persons,  who  have  unlawfully, 
during  your  long  absence,  taken  possession  of  a  portion 
of  the  wheat  lands  near  Gilgal,  will  be  ordered  to  restore 
them. 

I  shall,  therefore,  be  ready  soon  to  depart  from  Jeru- 


586          THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

salem  for  Syria,  and  thence  proceed  homeward  by  the 
great  caravan.  You  will  be  complimented  to  know  that 
the  king,  hearing  of  the  magnificence  of  your  majesty's 
Assyrian  palaces  and  Temples,  is  to  send  with  me  his 
chief  architect  to  visit  them,  and  draw  plans*  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  noble,  in  order  to  decide  upon  the  style  of 
the  Temple,  f  for  which  he  is  preparing  the  materials,  and 
which  his  son  Solomon  will  erect.  If  the  Hebrew  prince 
should  behold  the  palace  of  Ninus,  my  dear  father,  he 
would  hardly  fail  to  re-produce  it,  with  that  alteration 

*  That  Solomon  subsequently  built  the  Temple  after  Assyrian 
models,  says  an  Oriental  writer,  is  evident  from  the  close  re 
semblance  of  its  style  with  the  Assyrian  Temples.  Unques 
tionably,  Assyria  furnished  the  most  ancient  specimens  of  true 
art  in  architecture.  Greece  gathered  as  much  from  Assyria  as 
from  Egypt.  Among  the  Assyrian  remains  is  to  be  found  the 
type  of  architecture  which  the  Temple  of  Solomon  developed. 
The  recent  production  of  a  bas-relief,  found  in  Nineveh, 
represents  an  Assyrian  palace.  It  gives  us  Solomon's  Temple 
as  we  may  suppose  it  really  was.  The  Jewish  Temple  was 
erected  very  nearly  at  the  same  time  with  the  great  palace  at 
Nimroud,  when  the  arts  of  the  Assyrians  had  already  attained 
their  highest  perfection.  According  to  Josephus,  Solomon 
"  waiuscotted  the  walls  (of  the  House  of  the  Forest  of  Lebanon) 
with  stones  that  were  sawed,  and  were  of  great  value,  such  as 
are  dug  out  of  the  earth  for  the  ornament  of  Temples."  The 
stones  were  sculptured,  "  representing  all  sorts  of  fruits  and 
trees."  The  wall  was  "  plastered  over,  and,  as  it  were,  wrought 
over  with  various  colors  and  pictures."  Nothing  can  be  more 
Assyrian  in  its  style  and  picturesqueness  than  this.  The  Per- 
tian  kings  of  the  Achaemeuian  dynasty  built  palaces  at  Persepo- 
lis,  Ecbatana,  and  Susa,  upon  the  Assyrian  model:  we  may  safely 
take  it  for  granted  that  Solomon  did  tht  same  thing  when  ho 
erected  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem. 

t  Vide  Appendix  HI. 


THE   11EBELLION    OF   PRINCE   ABSALOM.  587 

and  increased  majesty  which  becomes  the  Palace  of  God, 
upon  Mount  Moriah.  So  vast  is  the  accumulation  of 
wealth,  so  abundant  the  gold  and  silver  of  Ophir  and  of 
Tarshish,*  and  precious  stones  from  India,  and  fragrant 
and  costly  woods  from  Arabia  and  Lebanon,  which  are 
collected  in  the  king's  treasure  house,  that,  without 
doubt,  aided  by  the  wrondrous  skill  of  the  Tyrian  artists, 
the  Hebrews  may  present  to  the  eyes  of  the  world  an 
edifice  of  the  most  extraordinary  grandeur  and  beauty, 
the  wonder  of  the  whole  earth. 

Farewell,  my  dearest  father  and  dearest  mother,  until 
I  once  more  embrace  you  in  your  own  Palace  at  Tadmor. 

ISRILID. 
*  Vide  Appendix  IT. 


588  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVID;    OR, 


CONCLUSION. 

THE  Throne  of  King  David  being  now  once  more  firmly 
established,  and  the  king  reinstated  in  all  his  former  power  and 
dignity,  he  decided  to  ascertain  the  number  of  his  subjects, 
and  know  the  extent  and  weight  of  his  power  and  dominion. 
His  chief  motive  was  a  desire  to  learn  how  large  an  army  he 
could  bring  into  the  field ;  for  he  had  conceived,  it  is  believed, 
the  ambitious  idea  of  crowning  his  reign  by  the  conquest  of 
Egypt,  and  thereby  wiping  out  the  stain  of  the  bondage  of  Is 
rael  therein,  the  memory  of  which  still  rankled  in  the  hearts 
of  the  haughty  Hebrews.  The  result  gave  800,000  warriors 
in  Israel  and  500,000  in  Judah,  including  all  the  conquered 
nations,  a  host  altogether  of  1,300,000  men  able  to  bear  arms. 

To  rebuke  this  pride  and  ambition,  the  Prophet  Gad  was 
sent  by  the  Lord  from  the  wildernesses  of  Jordan,  and  came 
before  the  king  to  denounce  what  he  had  done  as  displeas 
ing  to  heaven.  To  punish  him,  a  pestilence  was  sent  upon  the 
kingdom  in  which  seventy  thousand  persons  perished.  An 
angel  was  also  seen  by  night  with  his  hand  stretched  forth  over 
Jerusalem  to  destroy  it,  but  the  vengeance  of  God  was  stayed 
by  a  sacrifice  of '  burnt-offerings*  and  peace-offerings  upon  an 
altar  which  David  erected  upon  Mount  Moriah,  the  site  he 
had  chosen  for  the  proposed  temple,  and  which  was  thereby 
solemnly  consecrated  by  blood. 

"  The  remaining  years  of  David  were  spent  in  making  the 
most  costly  preparations  for  the  building  of  the  temple,  and  in 

*  This  sacrifice  of  a  lamb  averted  the  anger  of  Jehovah,  and  saved  Jeru 
salem.  This  was  a  figure  of  the  sacrifice  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  which  averta 
the  anger  of  Jehovah,  and  is  the  protection  of  the  true  Jerusalem,  the 
Church.  The  manner  of  roasting  the  lamb  upon  the  altar  represented  the 
affixing  of  a  man  to  u  cross. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      589 

securing  the  succession  to  his  son  Solomon,  to  whom  this  great 
trust  was  to  be  bequeathed.  As  his  time  drew  near,  those  evils 
began  to  display  themselves,  which  are  inseparable  from  oriental 
monarchies,  where  polygamy  prevails ;  and  where  among  children, 
from  many  wives,  of  different  ranks,  no  certain  rule  of  succes 
sion  is  established.  Factions  began  to  divide  the  army,  the 
royal  household,  and  even  the  priesthood.  Adonijah,  the  bro 
ther  of  Absalom,  supported  by  the  turbulent  Joab,  and  by 
Abiathar,  the  priest,  assembled  a  large  body  of  adherents,  to 
crown  him.  When  this  intelligence  was  communicated,  to 
David,  without  the  slightest  delay  he  commanded  Nathan,  the 
Drophet,  and  Zadok,  the  priest,  with  Beuaiah,  one  of  his  most 
valiant  captains,  to  take  Solomon  down  to  Gihon,to  anoint  and 
proclaim  him  king. 

"  The  young  king  re-entered  the  city  amid  the  loudest  accla 
niations;  the  party  of  Adonijah,  who  were  still  at  their  feast, 
dispersed  and  fled.  Adouijah  took  refuge  at  the  altar  ;  his  life 
was  spared.  David,  after  this  success,  assembled  first  the  great 
body  of  leading  men  in  the  state,  and  afterward  called  a  more 
extensive  and  popular  convention  of  the  people,  before  whom 
he  designated  Solomon  as  his  successor,  commended  to  the  zeal 
and  piety  of  the  people  the  building  of  the  temple,  and  received 
their  contributions  towards  the  great  national  work. 

"  As  his  death  approached,  he  strictly  enjoined  his  son  to 
adhere  to  the  Mosaic  laws  and  to  the  divine  constitution.  He 
recommended  him  to  watch  with  a  jealous  eye  the  bold  and 
restless  Joab;  a  man  who,  however  bravo  and  faithful,  was 
dangerous  from  his  restless  ambition,  and  from  the  savage  un- 
scrupulousness  with  which  he  shed  the  blood  of  his  enemies. 
Abner  and  Amasa  had  both  fallen  by  his  hand,  without  war 
rant  or  authority  from  the  king.  Solomon,  according  to  his 
wisdom,  on  the  first  appearance  of  treasonable  intention,  was  to 
put  him  to  death  without  mercy.* 

"  Thus,  having  provided  for  the  security  of  the  succession, 
the  maintenance  of  the  law,  and  the  lasting  dignity  of  the  na 
tional  religion,  David  breathed  his  last,  having  reigned  forty 
years  over  the  flourishing  and  powerful  monarchy  of  which  he 

*  1  Kings,  chap.  ii.  28-35. 


590  THE   TRKONE   OF   DAVID;    OK, 

may  be  considered  tho  founder.  He  had  succeeded  to  a  king 
dom  distracted  with  civil  dissension,  environed  on  every  sido 
by  powerful  and  victorious  enemies,  without  a  capital,  almost 
without  an  army,  without  any  bond  of  union  between  the  tribes. 
He  left  a  compact  and  united  state,  stretching  from  the  fron 
tier  of  Eg3rpt  to  the  foot  of  Lebanon,  from  the  Euphrates  to 
the  sea.  He  had  crushed  the  power  of  the  Philistines,  sub 
dued  or  curbed  all  the  adjacent  kingdoms :  he  had  formed  a 
lasting  and  important  alliance  with  the  great  city  of  Tyre. 
He  had  organized  an  immense  disposable  force :  every  month 
24,000  men,  furnished  in  rotation  by  the  tribes,  appeared  in 
arms,  and  were  trained  as  the  standing  militia  of  the  country. 
At  the  head  of  his  army  were  officers  of  consummate  experi 
ence,  and,  what  was  more  highly  esteemed  in  the  warfare  of 
the  time,  extraordinary  personal  activity,  strength,  and  valor. 
His  heroes  remind  us  of  those  of  Arthur  or  Charlemagne,  ex 
cepting  that  the  armor  of  the  feudal  chieftains  constituted  the 
superiority  ;  here  main  strength  of  body  and  dauntless  fortitude 
of  mind.  The  Hebrew  nation  owed  the  long  peace  of  the  son's 
reign  to  the  bravery  and  wisdom  of  the  father.  If  the  rapidity 
with  which  a  kingdom  rises  to  unexampled  prosperity,  and  the 
permanence,  as  far  as  human  wisdom  can  provide,  of  that  pros 
perity,  be  a  fair  criterion  of  the  abilities  and  character  of  a 
sovereign,  few  kings  in  history  can  compete  with  David.  His 
personal  character  has  been  often  discussed ;  but  both  by  his 
enemies,  and  even  by  some  of  his  learned  defenders,  with  an 
ignorance  of,  or  inattention  to,  his  age  and  country,  as  melan 
choly  as  surprising.  Both  parties  have  been  content  to  take 
the  expression  of  the  man  after  God's  own  heart,  in  a  strict 
and  literal  sense.  Both  have  judged  by  modern  European,  and 
Christian  notions,  the  chieftain  of  an  eastern  and  comparatively 
barbarous  people.  He  had  his  barem,  like  other  eastern  kings. 
He  waged  war,  and  revenged  himself  on  his  foreign  enemies 
with  merciless  cruelty,  like  other  warriors  of  his  age  and  coun 
try.  His  one  great  crime  violated  the  immutable  and  universal 
laws  of  morality,  and  therefore  admits  of  no  excuse.  On  the 
other  hand,  his  consummate  personal  bravery  and  military 
talent — his  generosity  to  his  enemies — his  fidelity  to  his  friends 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      591 

— his  knowledge  of,  and  steadfast  attention  to,  the  true  inte 
rests  of  his  country — his  exalted  piety  and  gratitude  towards 
his  God,  justify  the  zealous  and  fervent  attachment  of  the  Jew 
ish  people  to  the  memory  of  their  great  monarch. 

''  The  three  most  eminent  men  in  the  Hebrew  annals,  Moses, 
David,  and  Solomon,  were  three  of  their  most  distinguished 
poets.  The  hymns  of  David  excel  no  less  in  sublimity  and 
tenderness  of  expression  than  in  loftiness  and  purity  of  reli 
gious  sentiment.  In  comparison  with  them  the  sacred  poetry 
of  all  other  nations  sinks  into  mediocrity.  They  have  embodied 
so  exquisitely  the  universal  language  of  religious  emotion,  that 
(a  few  fierce  and  vindictive  passages  excepted,  natural  in  the 
warrior  poet  of  a  sterner  age)  they  have  entered  with  unques 
tioned  propriety  into  the  ritual  of  the  l;olier  and  more  perfect 
religion  of  Christ.  The  songs  which  cheered  the  solitude  of 
the  desert  caves  of  Engedi,  or  resounded  from  the  voice  of  the 
Hebrew  people,  as  they  wound  along  the  glens  or  the  hill-sides  of 
Judea,  have  been  repeated  for  ages  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
habitable  world,  in  the  remotest  islands  of  the  ocean,  among  the 
forests  of  America,  on  the  sands  of  Africa.  How  many  human 
hearts  have  they  softened,  purified,  exalted ! — of  how  many 
wretched  beings  have  they  been  the  secret  consolation  I — on 
how  many  communities  have  they  drawn  down  the  blessings 
of  Divine  Providence,  by  bringing  the  affections  into  unison 
with  their  deep  devotional  fervor. 

"  SOLOMON  succeeded  to  the  Hebrew  kingdom  at  the  age  of 
twenty.  He  was  environed  by  designing,  bold,  and  dangerous 
enemies.  He  saw  at  once  the  wisdom  of  his  father's  dying 
admonition  :  he  seized  the  opportunity  of  crushing  all  future 
opposition,  and  all  danger  of  a  civil  war.  He  caused  Adonijah 
to  be  put  to  death ;  suspended  Abiathar  from  his  ofiice,  and 
banished  him  from  Jerusalem  :  and  though  Joab  fled  to  the 
altar,  he  commanded  him  to  be  slain,  for  the  two  murders  of 
which  he  had  been  guilty,  those  of  Abner  and  Amasa.  Shimei, 
another  dangerous  character,  was  commanded  to  reside  in  Je 
rusalem,  on  pain  of  death  if  he  should  quit  the  city.  Three 
years  afterward  he  was  detected  in  a  suspicious  journey  to  Gath, 
on  the  Philistine  border;  and  having  violated. the  compact,  he 


592         THE  THRONE  OF  DAVID;  OR, 

suffered  the  penalty.  Thus  secured  by  the  policy  of  his  father 
from  internal  enemies,  by  the  terror  of  his  victories  from  foreign 
invasion,  Solomon  commenced  his  peaceful  reign,  during  which 
Judah  and  Israel  dwelt  safely,  every  man  under  his  vine  and 
under  his  fig-tree,  from  Dan  to  Beersheba.  His  justice  was 
proverbial.  Among  his  first  aots  after  his  succession,  it  is  re 
lated  that  after  a  costly  sacrifice  at  Gibeon,  the  place  where  the 
tabernacle  remained,  God  had  appeared  to  him  in  a  dream,  and 
offered  him  whatever  gift  he  chose  :  the  wise  king  had  requested 
an  understanding  heart  to  judge  the  people.  God  not  merely 
assented  to  his  prayer,  but  added  the  gift  of  honor  and  riches. 
His  judicial  wisdom  was  displayed  in  the  memorable  history  of 
the  two  women  who  contested  the  right  to  a  child.  Solomon, 
in  the  wild  spirit  of  oriental  justice,  commanded  the  infant  to 
be  divided  before  their  faces  :  the  heart  of  the  real  mother  was 
struck  with  terror  and  abhorrence  ;  while  the  false  one  consented 
to  the  horrible  partition  ;  and  by  this  appeal  to  nature  the  cause 
was  justly  decided. 

"  The  internal  government  of  his  extensive  dominions  next 
demanded  the  attention  of  Solomon.  Besides  the  local  and 
municipal  governors,  he  divided  the  kingdom  into  twelve  dis 
tricts  :  over  each  of  these  he  appointed  a  purveyor,  for  the  col 
lection  of  the  royal  tribute,  which  was  received  in  kind ;  and 
thus  the  growing  capital  and  the  immense  establishments  of  Solo 
mon  were  abundantly  furnished  with  provisions.  Each  pur 
veyor  supplied  the  court  for  a  month.  The  daily  consumption 
of  his  household  was  300  bushels  of  finer  flour,  600  of  a  coarser 
sort;  10  fatted,  20  other  oxen;  100  sheep;  besides  poultry 
and  various  kinds  of  venison.  Provender  was  furnished  for 
40,000  horses,  and  a  great  number  of  dromedaries.  Yet  the 
population  of  the  country  did  not,  at  first  at  least,  feel  these 
burthens  :  Judah  and  Israel  were  many,  as  the  sand  which  is 
by  the  sea  in  multitude,  eating  and  drinking,  and  maJcing 
merry. 

"  The  foreign  treaties  of  Solomon  were  as  wisely  directed  to 
secure  the  profound  peace  of  his  dominions.  He  entered  into 
a  matrimonial  alliance  with  the  royal  family  of  Egypt,  whose 
daughter  he  received  with  great  magnificence ;  and  he  renewed 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      593 

the  important  alliance  with  the  King  of  Tyre.  The  friendship 
of  this  monarch  was  of  the  highest  value  in  contributing  to  the 
great  royal  and  national  work,  the  building  of  the  Temple.  The 
cedar  timber  could  only  be  obtained  from  the  forests  of  Leba 
non  :  the  Sidonian  artisans  were  the  most  skillful  workmen  in 
every  kind  of  manufacture,  particularly  in  the  precious  metals 
Solomon  entered  into  a  regular  treaty,  by  which  he  bound  him 
self  to  supply  the  Tyrians  with  large  quantities  of  corn ;  receiv 
ing  in  return  their  timber,  which  was  floated  down  to  Joppa, 
and  a  large  body  of  artificers.  The  timber  was  cut  by  his  own 
subjects,  of  whom  he  raised  a  body  of  30,000 ;  10,000  em 
ployed  at  a  time,  and  relieving  each  other  every  month ;  so 
that  to  one  month  of  labor  they  had  two  of  rest.  He  raised 
two  other  corps,  one  of  70,000  porters  of  burthens ;  the  other 
of  80,000  hewers  of  stone,  who  were  employed  in  the  quarries 
among  the  mountains.  All  these  labors  were  thrown,  not  on 
the  Israelites,  but  on  the  strangers,  who,  chiefly  of  Canaan itish 
descent,  had  been  permitted  to  inhabit  the  country.  These 
preparations,  in  addition  to  those  of  King  David,  being  com 
pleted,  the  work  began.  The  eminence  of  Moriah,  the  Mount 
of  Vision  ;  i.  e.,  the  height  seen  afar  from  the  adjacent  country ; 
which  tradition  pointed  out  as  the  spot  where  Abraham  had 
offered  his  son ;  where  recently  the  plague  had  been  stayed,  by 
the  altar,  built  in  the  thrashing-floor  of  Oman  or  Auraunah, 
the  Jebusite  ;  rose  on  the  east  side  of  the  city.  Its  rugged  top 
was  levelled  with  immense  labor ;  its  sides,  which  to  the  east 
and  south  were  precipitous,  were  faced  with  a  wall  of  stone, 
built  up  perpendicular  from  the  bottom  of  the  valley,  so  as  to 
appear  to  those  who  looked  down  of  most  terrific  height;  a 
work  of  prodigious  skill  and  labor,  as  the  immense  stones  were 
strongly  mortised  together  and  wedged  into  the  rock.  Around 
the  whole  area  or  esplanade,  an  irregular  quadrangle,  was  a 
solid  wall  of  considerable  height  and  strength  :  within  this 
was  an  open  court,  into  which  the  Gentiles  were  either  from 
the  first  or  subsequently  admitted.  A  second  wall  encompassed 
another  quadrangle,  called  the  court  of  the  Israelites.  Along 
this  wall,  on  the  inside,  ran  a  portico  or  cloister,  over  which 
were  chambers  for  different,  sacred  purposes.  Within  this  again, 
38 


594  THE   THRONE    OF   DAVIDJ    OR, 

another,  probably  a  lower,  wall,  separated  the  court  of  the 
priests  from  that  of  the  Israelites.  To  each  court,  the  ascent 
was  by  steps,  so  that  the  platform  of  the  inner  court  was  on  a 
higher  level  than  that  of  the  outer.  The  temple  itself  was 
rather  a  monument  of  the  wealth  than  the  architectural  skill 
and  science  of  the  people.  It  was  a  wonder  of  the  world,  from 
the  splendor  of  its  materials.* 

We  now  bring  our  illustrations  of  the  extraordinary  scenes 
in  the  life  of  a  monarch,  whose  whole  career,  from  the  hour  of 
his  consecration  as  an  ingenuous  young  shepherd  to  his  death  as  a 
venerable  and  penitent  monarch,  is  without  parallel  in  the  his 
tory  of  kings.  If  there  is  romance  discoverable  in  this  book,  it 
is  not  of  the  author's  creation.  Many  of  the  narratives  of  the 
Scriptures  are  stories  of  the  most  strikingly  romantic  character, 
with  surprises  and  positions  which  the  genius  of  Scott  could 
never  have  invented  or  conceived,  from  the  story  of  Joseph 
down  to  that  of  Esther,  the  Queen.  If  the  perusal  of  these 
illustrations  of  the  days  of  Saul  and  of  David  sufficiently  interest 
the  reader,  who  has,  hitherto,  had  but  little  knowledge  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  sends  him  to  those  sacred  pages  for  instruction 
and  comparison,  the  author's  object  will  have  been  achieved. 

The  reader,  who  is  interested  in  the  events  presented  to  his 
attention  in  this  volume,  is  referred  to  the  book  of  Joshua,  the 
First  and  Second  Books  of  Samuel,  and  the  First  Book  of 
Kings  for  the  chief  sources  from  which  the  facts  are  drawn ; 
and  to  the  History  of  the  Jews,  by  Milman,  and  to  Josephus, 
Books  v.  vi,  and  vii.  For  an  account  of  the  building  of  the 
Temple,  for  which  David  collected,  in  the  closing  years  of  his 
reign,  the  varied  and  costly  materials,  the  reader  is  referred  to 
the  Appendix  at  the  close  of  the  volume. 

The  royal  line  of  the  House  of  David  continued  under  various 
vicissitudes  and  interruptions,  until  the  birth  of  the  last  Prince 
of  the  Throne  of  Judah  in  his  own  native  city,  Bethlehem,  ac- 
ccording  to  the  prophecy  of  Jacob  :  "  The  sceptre  shall  not 
depart  from  Judah,  nor  a  Lawgiver  from  between  his  feet,  until 
Shiloh  come:" 

Of  whom  it  is  prophetically  written,  "  He  shall  be  great,  and 

*  Milmnn's  History  of  the  Jews. 


THE  REBELLION  OF  PRINCE  ABSALOM.      595 

shall  be  called  the  Son  of  the  Highest ;  and  the  Lord  God  shall 
give  him  the  Throne  of  his  Father,  DAVID.  And  he  shall 
reign  over  the  House  of  J  acob  forever ;  and  of  his  kingdom 
shall  there  be  no  end." 

Of  whom  David  sung,  striking  his  prophetic  harp : 

"  Thy  throne,  0  God,  is  forever  and  ever  : 
The  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom  is  a  right  sceptre. 
Thou  lovest  righteousness  and  hatest  wickedness, 
Therefore  God,  thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee 
With  the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fellows. 
Instead  of  thy  fathers,  shall  be  thy  children, 
Whom  thou  mayest  make  Princes  in  all  the  earth. 
Thou  art  fairer  than  the  children  of  men, 

Grace  is  poured  into  thy  lips. 
Therefore  God  hath  blessed  THEE  forever. 

In  his  days  shall  the  righteous  flourish, 
And  abundance  of  peace  so  long  as  the  moon  endureth  : 
He  shall  have  dominion  from  sea  to  sea, 
And  from  the  river  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth. 
For  I  have  made  a  covenant  with  my  chosen, 
I  have  sworn  unto  David,  my  servant, 
•  Thy  SEED  will  I  establish  forever, 
And  build  up  thy  Throne  unto  all  generations.' 
And  the  House  of  David  shall  be  as  God, 

As  the  angel  of  the  Lord  before  them; 
And  I  will  pour  upon  the  House  of  David, 

And  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem, 
The  Spirit  of  Grace  and  of  supplications, 

And  they  shall  look  upon  ME  whom  they  have  pierced  P* 

And  the  inspired  Apostle  of  the  Apocalypse,  seeing  for  be 
yond  the  earthly  Jerusalem  to  the  ends  of  the  ages,  writes  of 
the  last  Prince  of  the  House  of  David  : 

"  The  kingdoms  of  the  world  are  become 
The  kingdoms  of  our  LORD  and  of  his  CHRIST: 
And  he  shall  reign  forever  and  ever.*' 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX  I. 

URIM  AND  THUMMIM. 

THE  Pyramids  and  other  stupendous  structures  on  the  JNne 
bear  Masons'  marks,  as  fresh  as  though  chiseled  yesterday. 
Similar  traces  have  lately  been  discovered  on  the  monuments 
of  Nineveh  and  Babylon,  that  undoubtedly  have  reference  to 
the  Masonic  mysteries,  and,  among  them,  to  the  Great  and 
Occult  Name.  In  regard  to  the  "Book  of  the  Dead,"  which, 
in  whole  or  part,  is  contained  in  a  papyrus  roll  laid  up  with 
the  Egyptian  mummy  in  the  Sarcophagus,  there  are  many 
symbols  and  names,  probably  Masonic,  and  more  especially  the 
name  of  Deity  among  the  Egyptian  writings,  which  may  have 
an  important  bearing  upon  Masonic  history.  The  explanation 
of  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  the  lights  and  perfections,  and  of 
the  breastplate  of  Aaron,  is  remarkable.  The  initial  letters 
of  the  Hebrew  names  of  the  twelve  stones  in  that  breastplate, 
and  also  of  the  twelve  tribes,  (by  the  application  of  a  key  dis 
covered  by  Lanci,)  conveyed  a  meaning  which  the  exegesis  of  a 
learned  linguist  would  never  have  reached.  The  explanation 
of  the  Urim  is,  'I  will  cause  the  oracular  spirit  to  rise  at  my 
will;" — of  the  Thummim,  "And  of  the  Seers  it  will  manifest 
the  secret:"  and  by  putting  the  first  two  letters  in  Hebrew 
together,  the  ineffable  name  is  made  out. 

(597) 


598  APPENDIX. 

APPENDIX  H. 

SOLOMON'S  THRONE. 

THE  following  magnificent  description  of  the  "Throne  of 
King  David,"  which  Solomon  erected,  is  copied  from  an  ancient 
Oriental  manuscript: 

"  The  sides  of  the  "throne  were  of  pure  gold,  and  the  feet  of 
it  were  of  emeralds  and  pearls.  The  throne  had  seven  steps. 
On  each  side  were  delineated  orchards  full  of  trees,  the  branches 
of  which  were  of  precious  stones,  representing  ripe  and  unripe 
fruit.  On  the  tops  of  the  trees  fowls  of  the  most  beautiful 
plumage  were  represented,  and  these  were  hollow  within,  and 
made  to  utter  sounds  of  a  thousand  melodious  tones.  On  the 
first  step  were  vine  branches  with  bunches  of  grapes,  composed 
of  precious  stones,  arranged  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  the 
different  colors  of  purple,  violet,  green,  and  red,  so  as  to  repre 
sent  the  fruit  in  its  various  stages  from  green  to  ripe.  On  the 
second  step  were  two  lions  of  pure  gold,  and  terrible  aspect,  as 
large  as  life.  The  properties  of  the  throne  were  such  that  when 
Solomon  placed  his  foot  on  the  first  step,  all  the  birds  spread 
their  wings  and  made  a  fluttering  noise  in  the  air;  on  his 
touching  the  second  step,  the  lions  extended  their  paws ;  on  his 
reaching  the  third  step,  the  whole  assembly  repeated  the  name 
of  the  Deity.  When  he  arrived  at  the  fourth  step,  voices  were 
heard  addressing  him  thus,  '  Son  of  David,  be  grateful  for  the 
blessings  the  Almighty  hath  bestowed  upon  thee !'  and  the  same 
was  repeated  on  reaching  the  fifth  step !  On  his  touching  the 
sixth  step,  all  the  children  sang  praises !  On  his  arrival  at  the 
seventh  step,  the  whole  throne  became  in  motion,  and  ceased 
not  until  he  had  taken  his  seat,  when  all  the  birds,  lions,  and 
animals,  by  secret  springs,  discharged  a  shower  of  the  nost  pre 
cious  perfume  on  the  king,  and  two  of  the  birds  descended  and 
placed  a  golden  crown  upon  his  head !  Before  the  throne  was 
a  column  of  burnished  gold,  on  the  top  of  which  was  placed  a 
golden  dove,  which  had  in  its  beak  a  roll  bound  in  silver;  in 
this  roll  were  written  the  Psalms  of  David,  and  the  dove  having 


APPENDIX.  599 

presented  the  roll  to  the  king,  he  read  a  portion  of  it  to  the 
people  of  Israel.  On  the  approach  of  a  wicked  person  to  the 
throne  for  judgment,  the  lions  would  set  up  a  terrible  roaring 
and  lash  their  tails ;  the  birds  began  to  erect  their  feathers, 
and  the  whole  assembly  set  up  such  loud  cries,  that  for  fear  of 
them,  no  person  would  dare  be  guilty  of  falsehood,  but  would 
instantly  confess  their  crimes !  Such  was  the  Throne  of  Solo- 


APPENDIX  HI. 

THE  following  account  of  the  building,  by  Solomon,  of  the 
Temple  which  King  David  so  long  desired  to  erect,  and  for 
which  he  collected  countless  sums  in  gold  and  silver,  is  taken 
from  Josephus : 

"  When  Hiram,  King  of  Tyre,  had  heard  that  Solomon  suc 
ceeded  to  his  father's  kingdom,  he  was  very  glad  of  it,  for  he  was 
a  friend  of  David's.  So  he  sent  ambassadors  to  him,  and 
saluted  him,  and  congratulated  him  on  the  present  happy  state 
of  his  affairs.  Upon  which  Solomon  sent  him  an  epistle,  the 
contents  of  which  here  follow :  — 

SOLOMON  TO  KING  HIRAM. 

44  *  Know  thou  that  my  father  would  have  built  a  temple  to 
God,  but  was  hindered  by  wars,  and  continual  expeditions :  for 
he  did  not  leave  off  to  overthrow  his  enemies  till  he  made  them 
all  subject  to  tribute.  But  I  give  thanks  to  God  for  the  peace 
I  at  present  enjoy,  and  on  that  account  I  am  at  leisure,  and 
design  to  build  a  house  to  God,  for  God  foretold  to  my  father 
that  such  a  house  should  be  built  by  me ;  wherefore  I  desire 
thee  to  send  some  of  thy  subjects  with  mine  to  Mount  Lebanon, 
to  cut  down  timber ;  for  the  Sidonians  are  more  skillful  than 
our  people  in  cutting  of  wood.  As  for  wages  to  the  hewers  of 
wood,  I  will  pay  whatsoever  price  thou  shalt  determine.' 

"  When  Hiram  had  read  this  epistle,  he  was  pleased  with  it, 
and  wrote  back  this  answer  to  Solomon : — 


600  APPENDIX. 


HIRAM   TO   KING   SOLOMON. 

"  *  It  is  fit  to  bless  God,  that  he  hath  committed  thy  father  3 
government  to  thee,  who  art  a  wise  man,  and  endowed  with  all 
virtues.  As  for  myself,  I  rejoice  at  the  condition  thou  art  in, 
and  will  be  subservient  to  thee  in  all  that  thou  sendest  to  me 
about;  for  when  by  my  subjects  I  have  cut  down  many  and 
large  trees  of  cedar  and  cypress  wood,  I  will  send  them  to  sea, 
and  will  order  my  subjects  to  make  floats  of  them,  and  to  sail 
to  what  place  soever  of  thy  country  thou  shalt  desire,  and  leave 
them  there,  after  which  thy  subjects  may  carry  them  to  Jeru 
salem  :  but  do  thou  take  care  to  procure  us  corn  for  this  timber, 
which  we  stand  in  need  of,  because  we  inhabit  in  an  island/ 

"  The  copies  of  these  epistles  remain  at  this  day,  and  are  pre~ 
served  not  only  in  our  books,  but  among  the  Tyrians  also ;  inso 
much  that  if  any  one  would  know  the  certainty  about  them,  he 
may  desire  the  keepers  of  the  public  records  of  Tyre  to  show 
him  them,  and  he  will  find  what  is  there  set  down  to  agree  with 
what  we  have  said.  I  have  said  so  much  out  of  a  desire  that 
my  readers  may  know  that  we  speak  nothing  but  the  truth,  and 
do  not  compose  a  history  out  of  some  plausible  relations,  which 
deceive  men  and  please  them  at  the  same  time,  nor  attempt  to 
avoid  examination,  nor  desire  men  to  believe  us  immediately  ; 
nor  are  we  at  liberty  to  depart  from  speaking  truth,  which 
is  the  proper  commendation  of  a  historian,  and  yet  to  be  blame 
less.  But  we  insist  upon  no  admission  of  what  we  say,  unless 
we  be  able  to  manifest  its  truth  by  demonstration  and  the 
strongest  vouchers. 

"Now  King  Solomon,  as  soon  as  this  epistle  of  the  King  of 
Tyre  was  brought  him,  commended  the  readiness  and  good-will 
he  declared  therein,  and  repaid  him  in  what  he  desired,  and 
sent  him  yearly  twenty  thousand  cori  of  wheat,  and  as  many 
baths  of  oil :  now  the  bath  is  able  to  contain  seventy-two  sex- 
taries.  He  also  sent  him  the  same  measure  of  wine.  So  the 
friendship  between  Hiram  and  Solomon  hereby  increased  more 
and  more ;  and  they  swore  to  continue  it  for  ever.  And  the 
king  appointed  a  tribute  to  be  laid  on  all  the  people,  of  thirty 
thousand  laborers,  whose  work  he  rendered  easy  to  them,  by 


APPENDIX.  601 

prudently  dividing  it  among  them ;  for  he  made  ten  thousand 
cut  timber  in  Mount  Lebanon  for  one  month,  and  then  to  come 
home ;  and  to  rest  two  months,  until  the  time  when  the  other 
twenty  thousand  had  finished  their  task  at  the  appointed  time ; 
and  so  afterwards  it  came  to  pass,  that  the  first  ten  thousand 
returned  to  their  work  every  fourth  month ;  and  it  was  Adoram 
who  was  over  this  tribute.  There  were  also  of  the  strangers 
who  were  left  by  David,  who  were  to  carry  the  stones  and 
other  materials,  seventy  thousand ;  and  of  those  that  cut  the 
stones,  eighty  thousand.  Of  these  three  thousand  and  three 
hundred  were  rulers  over  the  rest.  He  also  enjoined  them  to 
cut  out  large  stones  for  the  foundations  of  the  temple,  and  that 
they  should  fit  them  and  unite  them  together  in  the  mountain, 
and  so  bring  them  to  the  city.  This  was  done,  not  only  by  our 
own  country  workmen,  but  by  those  workmen  whom  Hiram 
sent  also." 


APPENDIX  IV. 

TARSHISH. 

IT  will  not  improbably  add  considerable  interest  to  that 
already  felt  by  outward-bound  passengers  in  the  Peninsular  and 
Oriental  steamers  in  their  first  glimpse  of  Indian  land,  to  know 
that,  according  to  the  best  authorities,  Point  de  Galle  is  the 
Tarshish  which  was  visited  by  the  navies  of  Hiram  and  Solo 
mon. 

"Tarshish  obviously  lay  in  the  road  to  Ophir,  the  land  from 
which  Solomon  procured  gold.  Malacca  was  known  to  the 
later  Greek  geographers,  as  the  Golden  Chersonese ;  and  in  the 
Malay  language,  ophir  is  the  generic  term  for  a  gold  mine. 
King  Solomon  made  a  navy  of  ships  in  Eziongeber,  '  which  is 
beside  Elath,  on  the  shore  of  the  lied  Sea/  From  Eziongeber, 
Solomon's  navy  traded  with  Tarshish  and  Ophir.  '  Once  in 
three  years  came  the  navy  of  Tarshish,  bringing  gold  and  silver, 
ivory,  and  apes,  and  peacocks/  In  a  Persian  poem  of  the  tenth 
century,  which  describes  an  expedition  from  Jerusalem  to 
Ceylon,  the  outward  voyage  is  stated  as  occupying  a  year  and 


602  APPENDIX. 

a  half — a  coincidence  which  would  be  valueless,  if  it  were 
not  for  the  regular  limits  imposed  upon  unscientific  naviga 
tion  in  the  Indian  Seas  by  the  recurrence  of  the  monsoons. 
Gold  could  have  been  trans-shipped  at  the  main  port  of  Ceylon 
from  the  vessels  which  brought  it  from  Ophir.  '  Silver  spread 
into  plates/  which  Jeremiah  mentions  as  coming  from  Tarshish, 
is  even  yet  in  use  as  the  material  of  the  sacred  books  of  the 
Singhalese.  Ivory  was,  of  course,  from  the  earliest  times  an 
export  from  Ceylon,  and  even  more  common  formerly  than  now. 
Apes  are  indigenous  to  the  island,  and  peafowl  abound  there. 
It  is  curious  that  the  very  terms  by  which  these  three  latter 
articles  of  commerce  are  designated  in  the  Hebrew  invoice,  so 
to  speak,  are  identical  with  their  Tamil  nomenclature  in  Ceylon 
at  the  present  day.  And  those  terms  were  so  entirely  foreign 
and  alien  from  the  common  Hebrew  language  as  to  have  driven 
the  Ptolemaist  authors  of  the  Septuagint  version  into  a  blunder, 
by  which  the  ivory,  apes,  and  peacocks,  come  out  as  '  hewn  and 
carven  stones.'"* 

If  Tarshish  be  once  placed  in  Ceylon,  everything  seems  to 
point  to  its  being  expressly  localized  at  Point  de  Galle.  This 
has  been  from  time  immemorial  the  great  emporium  of  the 
island.  Under  the  name  of  Kalah,  it  was  the  rendezvous  for  the 
Persian  and  Arabian  vessels  in  the  time  of  Haroun  Alraschid 
trading  with  China.  The  impossibility  of  navigating  the 
Strait  of  Manaar  except  with  the  smallest  craft,  as  well  as 
the  difficulties  in  regard  of  wind  and  currents,  which  would 
painfully  add  to  the  length  of  the  voyage  for  ships  from  Arabia 
or  the  Persian  Gulf,  in  rounding  the  southeast  coast  of  Ceylon, 
exclude  the  noble  harbor  of  Trincomalee  from  all  claim  to  this 
historical  distinction.  And  Pliny  learned  from  the  ambassadors 
Bent  from  Ceylon  to  the  Emperor  Claudius,  that  the  great  port 
of  the  island  fronted  the  south — a  description  applicable  to  no 
point  on  the  coast  but  that  of  Galle.  In  default  of  any  ground 
of  the  slightest  probability  for  a  bare  suggestion  that  the  de 
pot  of  general  Asiatic  maritime  trade  was  silently  changed 
in  the  interim  (a  thing  utterly  repugnant  to  the  habits  of 
timid  tenacity  and  slowly-bought  experience  characteristic  of 

*"  Sir  Etnerson  Tenncnt. 


APPENDIX.  603 

Eastern  sailors),  it  may  be  reasonably  concluded  that  the  great 
port  of  Ceylon,  from  the  times  of  Claudius  to  those  of  Haroun 
Alraschid,  and  from  his  times  to  those  of  the  Dutch  and  the 
Portuguese,  was  also  the  great  port  of  Ceylon  in  the  times  of 

Solomon. 


THE    EXD. 


MESSES,  BOBEBTS  BBOTEEBS'  PUBLICATIONS. 

MEET  FOR  HEAVEN. 

A   STATE  OP   GRACE  UPON  EARTH  THE  ONLY  PREP 

ARATION    FOR    A    STATE    OF     GLORY 

IN    HEAVEN. 

BY    THE    AUTHOR     OF    "HEAVEN    OUR    HOME." 
Crown  8vo.     Cloth,  extra.     Price  $1.00. 


OPINIONS   OF   THE    ENGLISH   PRESS. 

"This  forms  a  fitting  companion  to  'Heaven  our  Home,'  —  a  volume  which 
has  been  circulated  by  thousands,  and  which  has  found  its  way  into  almost  every 
Christian  family."  —  Scottish  Press. 

"  What  we  shall  be  hereafter,  —  whether  our  glorified  souls  will  be  like  onto 
our  souls  here,  or  whether  an  entire  change  hi  their  spiritual  and  moral  condition 
will  be  effected  after  death,  —  these  are  questions  which  occupy  our  thoughts,  and 
to  these  the  author  has  principally  addressed  himself."  —  Cambridge  University 
Chronicle. 

"The  author,  in  his  or  her  former  work,  'Heaven  our  Home,'  portrayed  * 
social  heaven,  where  scattered  families  meet  at  last  in  loving  intercourse  and  in 
possession  of  perfect  recognition,  to  spend  a  never-ending  eternity  of  peace  and 
love.  In  the  present  work  the  individual  state  of  the  children  of  God  is  Attempted 
to  be  unfolded,  and,  more  especially,  the  state  of  probation  which  is  set  apart  for 
them  on  earth  to  fit  and  prepare  erring  mortals  for  the'  society  of  the  saints.  .  .  . 
The  work,  as  a  whole,  displays  an  originality  of  conception,  a  flow  of  language, 
and  a  closeness  of  reasoning,  rarely  found  in  religious  publications.  .  .  .  The 
author  combats  the  pleasing  and  generally  accepted  belief  that  death  will  effect 
an  entire  change  of  the  spiritual  condition  of  our  souls,  and  that  all  who  enter  into 
bliss  will  be  placed  on  a  common  level."  —  Glasgow  Herald. 

"  A  careful  perusal  of  this  book  will  make  it  a  less  easy  thingj  for  a  man  to  cheat 
himself  into  the  notion  that  death  will  effect,  not  a  mere  transition  and  improve 
ment,  but  an  entire  change  in  his  moral  and  spiritual  state.  The  dangerous  nature 
of  this  delusion  is  exhibited  with  great  power  by  the  author  of  '  Meet  for  Heaven.' " 
—  Stirling  Observer. 

"This,  like  the  former  volume,  '  Heaven  our  Home,'  by  the  same  anonymou* 
author,  is  a  very  remarkable  book  Often  as  the  subject  has  been  handled,  both 
by  ancient  and  modem  divines,  it  has  never  been  touched  with  a  bolder  or  a  more 
masterly  hand."  —  John  O'Groat  Journal. 


LIFE  IN  HEAVEN. 

THERE,  FAITH  IS  CHANGED  INTO  SIGHT,  AND  ffOPB, 
IS   PASSED    INTO    BLISSFUL    FRUITION. 

A  New  Work  by  the  Author  of  "Heaven  our  Home"  and 

"Meet  for  Heaven." 
Crown  8vo.    Cloth,  extra.    Price  Jr.oo. 

This  new  work  is  a  companion  volume  to  "  Heaven  our  Home,"  and  'Meet 
for  Heaven,"  and  embraces  a  subject  of  very  great  interest,  which  has  net  been 
included  in  these  volumes. 

The  two  works  above  mentioned  have  already  attained  in  England  the  laret 
sale  of  100,000  copies. 


MESSES.  EOBEETS  BEOTHEES'  PUBLICATIONS, 


HEAVEN  OUR  HOME. 

WE    HAVE    NO    SAVIOUR    BUT   JESUS,  AND 
NO  HOME  BUT  HE  A  VEN. 

Crown  8vo.    Cloth,  extra.    Ji.oo 


OPINIONS   OF   THE   ENGLISH   PRESS. 

"The  author  of  the  volume  before  us  endeavors  to  describe  what  heaven  is,  as 
shown  by  the  light  of  reason  and  Scripture;  and  we  promise  the  reader  many 
Charming  pictures  of  heavenly  bliss,  founded  upon  undeniable  authority,  and  do 
scribed  with  the  pen  of  a  dramatist,  which  cannot  fail  to  elevate  the  soul  as  well 
as  to  delight  the  imagination.  .  .  .  Part  Second  proves,  in  a  manner  as  beautiful 
as  it  is  convincing,  the  doctrine  of  the  recognition  of  friends  in  heaven,  — a  subject 
of  which  the  author  makes  much,  introducing  many  touching  scenes  of  Scripture 
celebrities  meeting  in  heaven  and  discoursing  of  their  experience  on  earth.  Part 
Third  demonstrates  the  interest  which  those  in  heaven  feel  in  earth,  and  proves 
with  remarkable  clearness  that  such  an  interest  exists,  not  only  with  the  Almighty 
and  among  the  angels,  but  also  among  the  spirits  of  departed  friends.  We  unhes 
itatingly  give  our  opinion  that  this  volume  is  one  of  the  most  delightful  productions 
of  a  religious  character  which  has  appeared  for  some  time ;  and  we  would  desire 
to  see  it  pass  into  extensive  circulation." — Glasgow  Herald. 

"  This  work  gives  positive  and  social  views  of  heaven,  as  a  counteraction  to 
the  negative  and  unsocial  aspects  in  which  the  subject  is  so  commonly  presented." 
—  English  Churchman. 

"  Amid  the  works  proceeding  from  an  over-teeming  press,  our  attention  has  been 
arrested  by  the  perusal  of  the  above-named  production,  which,  it  seems,  is  wend- 
ing  its  way  daily  among  persons  of  all  denominations.  Certainly  '  Heaven  our 
Home,'  whoever  may  be  the  author,  is  no  common  production."  — Airdria 
A  dvertiser. 

"  In  boldness  of  conception,  startling  minuteness  of  delineation,  and  originality 
of  illustration,  this  work,  by  an  anonymous  author,  exceeds  any  of  the  kind  we 
have  ever  read."  —  John  Cf Groat  Journal. 

"  We  are  not  in  the  least  surprised  at  so  many  thousands  of  copies  of  this 
anonymous  writer's  being  bought  up.  We  seem  to  be  listening  to  a  voice  and  lan 
guage  which  we  never  heard  before.  Matter  comes  at  command  ;  words  flow  with 
.msrodied  ease ;  the  pages  are  full  of  life,  light,  and  force  ;  and  the  result  is  a 
stjmng  volume,  which,  while  the  Christian  critic  pronounces  it  free  from  affecta- 
t  on,  even  the  man  of  taste,  averse  to  evangelical  religion,  would  admit  to  be  exempt 
from  '  cant.'  "  —  London  Patriot. 

"The  name  of  the  author  of  this  work  is  strangely  enough  withheld.  .  .  .  A 
social  heaven,  in  which  there  will  be  the  most  perfect  recognition,  intercourse,  fel 
lowship,  and  bliss,  is  the  leading  idea  of  the  book,  and  it  is  discussed  ia  a  line, 

nai  spirit."  —  Caledonian  Mercury. 


Messrs.   Robots  Brothers'   Publications. 

IN    HIS   NAME. 

A  Story  of  the  Waldenses,  Seven    Hundred  Years  Ago. 

BY  E.    E.    HALE. 
Square  i8mo.     Price,  $1.00.     Paper,  30  cents. 

From  tJic  Liberal  Christian. 

"  One  of  the  most  helpful,  pure,  and  thoroughly  Christian  books  of  which  we 
have  any  knowledge.  It  has  the  mark  of  no  sect,  creed,  or  denomination  upon  it, 
hut  the  spirit  pervading  it  is  the  Christly  spirit.  .  .  .  We  might  well  speak  of  the 
author's  great  success  in  giving  an  air  of  quaintness  to  the  style,  befitting  a  story 
of  life  '  seven  hundred  years  ago.'  We  do  not  know  exactly  what  lends  to  it  this 
flavor  of  antiquity,  but  the  atmosphere  is  full  of  some  subtle  quality  which  removes 
the  tale  from  our  nineteenth  century  commonplace.  In  this  respect,  and  in  its 
dramatic  vividness  of  action,  '  In  His  Name,'  perhaps,  takes  as  high  a  rank  as  any 
of  Mr.  Hale's  literary  work." 

From  the  N.  V.  Commercial  Advertiser. 

"A  touching,  almost  a  thrilling,  tale  is  this  by  E.  E.  Hale,  in  its  pathetic  sim 
plicity  and  its  deep  meaning.  It  is  a  story  of  the  Waldenses  in  the  clays  when 
Richard  Cttur  de  Lion  and  his  splendid  following  wended  their  way  to  the  Cru- 
bades,  and  when  the  name  of  Christ  inspired  men  who  dwelt  in  palaces,  and  men 
,vho  she'tered  themselves  in  the  forests  of  France.  '  In  his  Name  '  was  the 
'Open  Sesame'  to  the  hearts  of  such  as  these,  and  it  is  to  illustrate  the  power  of 
this  almost  magical  phrase  that  the  story  is  written.  That  it  is  charmingly  writ 
ten  follows  from  its  authorship.  There  is  in  fact  no  little  book  that  we  have  seen 
of  late  that  offers  so  much  of  so  pleasant  reading  in  such  little  space,  and  con 
veys  so  apt  and  pertinent  a  lesson  of  pure  religion." 

"  The  very  loveliest  Christmas  Story  ever  written.  It  has  the  ring  of  an  old 
Troubadour  in  it." 

Sold  everywhere  by  all  booksellers.  Mailed,  post-paid, 
by  tJie  publishers, 

ROBERTS  BROTHERS,  BOSTON. 


Messrs.  Roberts  Brothers'  Publications. 


THE     'WISDOM    SERIES. 

EDITED  BY  THE  EDITOR  OF  "QUIET  HOURS" 
AND   "SURSUM  CORDA." 


"  These  little  volumes,  small  enough  for  the  pocket,  and  neat  enough 
for  the  cabinet  or  parlor  table,  are  admirably  selected  from  two  of  the 
books  which  can  never  grow  old  nor  lose  their  charm  to  devout  and 
meditative  minds.  They  may  well  lead  the  '  Wisdom  Series.'  The 
editor  who  gave  us  the  excellent  volume  of  selected  poems  called  '  Quiet 
Hours,'  and  who  has  just  prepared  another  and  similar  book,  has  done 
the  public  a  service  by  here  putting  together  in  compact  form  the  best 
of  the  thoughts  and  aspirations  which  this  generation  is  too  little  disposed 
to  look  for  amidst  the  less  pregnant  and  valuable  matter  with  which  they 
are  mingled  in  the  full  editions.  A  brief,  but  compact  and  readable, 
memoir  prefaces  each  volume."  —  Unitarian  Review. 


SELECTIONS  FROM  THE  IMITATION  OF  CHRIST.     By  Thomas 

&  Kern  pis. 
SELECTIONS  FROM   THE    THOUGHTS  OF  MARCUS   AURELIUS 

ANTONINUS. 
SUNSHINE  IN  THE  SOUL.     Poems  selected  by  the  Editor  of  "  Quiet 

Hours."     First  Series. 
SUNSHINE  IN  THE  SOUL.    Second  Series. 
SELECTIONS  FROM  EPICTETUS. 
THE  WISDOM  OF  JESUS,  THE  SON  OF  SIRACH  ;  OR,  ECCLESIAS- 

TICUS. 
THE  WISDOM  OF  SOLOMON,  AND  OTHER  SELECTIONS  FROM 

THE  APOCRYPHA. 
SELECTIONS  FROM  F^NELON. 
THE  LIFE  AND  SERMONS  OF  THE  REVEREND  DOCTOR  JOHN 

TAULER. 

SOCRATES,  THE  APOLOGY  AND  CRITO  OF  PLATO. 
SOCRATES,  THE  PH/EDO  OF  PLATO. 


iSmo,  cloth,  red  edges.  Price,  50  cents  each.  Complete  sets  (two 
vois.  in  one).  6  vols.  in  a  box.  Price,  $4.50.  Sold  by  all  Booksellers. 
Mailed,  post-paid,  by  the  Publishers, 

ROBERTS    BROTHERS,  BOSTON. 


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